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Our Wicked Gifts: The twisty, explosive romantasy thriller!
Not yet published
Expected 18 Jun 26How much would you sacrifice for love? What would you trade for power? How far would you go for family?
The Winter family are worth billions. But only they know their success is built upon a sinister deal with the devil – each Winter possesses a unique supernatural gift to ensure power and influence, but in exchange for their souls . . .
Nineteen-year-old black sheep of the family Cicely’s gift is for uncovering secrets, which doesn't make her very popular. But, when her family are threatened, and her uncle is found dead, they need her for the first time. When the clues point to Soren, a boy the family banished years ago, Cicely must choose between loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for the person who is trying to destroy them.
A dark and twisty romantasy thriller, perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games , Succession and One Of Us is Lying, from the bestselling author of Good Girls Die First .
The Winter family are worth billions. But only they know their success is built upon a sinister deal with the devil – each Winter possesses a unique supernatural gift to ensure power and influence, but in exchange for their souls . . .
Nineteen-year-old black sheep of the family Cicely’s gift is for uncovering secrets, which doesn't make her very popular. But, when her family are threatened, and her uncle is found dead, they need her for the first time. When the clues point to Soren, a boy the family banished years ago, Cicely must choose between loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for the person who is trying to destroy them.
A dark and twisty romantasy thriller, perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games , Succession and One Of Us is Lying, from the bestselling author of Good Girls Die First .
Audible Audio
Expected publication June 18, 2026
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March 18, 2026"I could ramble about how much I loved this book. Our Wicked Gifts is perfect for readers looking for a fresh take on a mystery and low fantasy genre combo!" - Mylee J. Miller from SFF Insiders
Read the full review here: https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...
Read the full review here: https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...
March 30, 2026
This had my attention from the very first chapter. I love the complex family dynamic and that everyone has their own role and personality. I enjoyed getting to learn about each person gifts and how the we’re going to add to the story. I never knew who was going to be next and it has me nervous for the next book.
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April 2, 2026Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy
A big thanks to YABC for proving an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know why, but this going into this book, I thought it had the vibes of Knives Out meets Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. But boy, was I wrong (in the best way)
Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield is a YA fantasy (almost murder mystery) novel that follows a family more dysfunctional than The Inheritance Game's Hawthorn. How much would you sacrifice for love? What would you trade for power? How far would you go for family? The Winter family are worth billions. But only they know their success is built upon a sinister deal with the devil – each Winter possesses a unique supernatural gift to ensure their power and influence, but in exchange for their souls... Nineteen-year-old black sheep of the family Cicely's gift is for uncovering secrets, which doesn't make her very popular. But, when her family are threatened, and her uncle is found dead, they need her for the first time. When the clues point to Soren, a boy the family banished years ago, Cecily must choose between loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for the person who is trying to destroy them. A dark and twisty romantasy thriller, perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games , Succession and One Of Us is Lying from the bestselling author of Good Girls Die First .
First things first, I LOVED this book, and I'm not one that usually reads books of this nature. I.e. mystery, as I ALWAYS end up figuring out the big twist in the first 50 pages of the book. But Our Wicked Gifts proves to be one that leave me wondering until the rug was ripped from beneath my feet. Another thing I absolutely loved about this book, are the characters strewn about. Yes, the Winters are quite inconceivable to fully understand with the many ties and knots of their motives, but I still found their complexity quite confounding. Though, of course my favorite is Soren (because why not!).
Regardless, the only thing I found to be quite odd about this novel is it's pacing. Foxfield kept her narrative tight and fast, which didn't allow any room for the reader to take a breath between reveals and twists. Which is fine for most, though I wish there was a bit more leisure to our sprint to the finish.
Nonetheless, Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield is a perfect novel for anyone looking to fill the hole in their heart while they wait for eventual release of The Gilded Blade by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Or anyone wanting something a little more deadly than Maggie Steifvater's The Raven Cycle.
I don't know why, but this going into this book, I thought it had the vibes of Knives Out meets Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. But boy, was I wrong (in the best way)
Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield is a YA fantasy (almost murder mystery) novel that follows a family more dysfunctional than The Inheritance Game's Hawthorn. How much would you sacrifice for love? What would you trade for power? How far would you go for family? The Winter family are worth billions. But only they know their success is built upon a sinister deal with the devil – each Winter possesses a unique supernatural gift to ensure their power and influence, but in exchange for their souls... Nineteen-year-old black sheep of the family Cicely's gift is for uncovering secrets, which doesn't make her very popular. But, when her family are threatened, and her uncle is found dead, they need her for the first time. When the clues point to Soren, a boy the family banished years ago, Cecily must choose between loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for the person who is trying to destroy them. A dark and twisty romantasy thriller, perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games , Succession and One Of Us is Lying from the bestselling author of Good Girls Die First .
First things first, I LOVED this book, and I'm not one that usually reads books of this nature. I.e. mystery, as I ALWAYS end up figuring out the big twist in the first 50 pages of the book. But Our Wicked Gifts proves to be one that leave me wondering until the rug was ripped from beneath my feet. Another thing I absolutely loved about this book, are the characters strewn about. Yes, the Winters are quite inconceivable to fully understand with the many ties and knots of their motives, but I still found their complexity quite confounding. Though, of course my favorite is Soren (because why not!).
Regardless, the only thing I found to be quite odd about this novel is it's pacing. Foxfield kept her narrative tight and fast, which didn't allow any room for the reader to take a breath between reveals and twists. Which is fine for most, though I wish there was a bit more leisure to our sprint to the finish.
Nonetheless, Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield is a perfect novel for anyone looking to fill the hole in their heart while they wait for eventual release of The Gilded Blade by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Or anyone wanting something a little more deadly than Maggie Steifvater's The Raven Cycle.
Want to Read
January 28, 2026messy families in fantasy always intrigue me
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Random House Children's Books for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Our Wicked Gifts follows the Winter family who have a dark secret: one of their ancestors sold their soul to the devil in exchange for power, money, and magical gifts. Now, generations later, the Winter family also has a lot to lose. Cicely is the black sheep daughter of the powerful matriarch and finds herself obsessed with using her magic to uncover the family's secrets. Why did they banish that boy to the underworld? Why did Felix's girlfriend get scared off? And when a dark enemy always seems to be one step ahead of them at every turn, can this tortured family come together? Or will the bodies keep finding their way to the mausoleum? Our Wicked Gifts comes out on July 7th and is available for preorder now.
This one was a mixed bag for me. The premise is just so spot on for something I could love. I love rich people drama, family drama, magic, mysteries. And we get all of that. To a degree. Everything really hinges on this one big family secret, but the way it's drawn out throughout the novel was getting on my nerves by the end. And yet I like what the actual secret was. I liked that some people had blood on their hands (theirs and other people's) and that the author wasn't fully pulling their punches. I also struggled with the way every single plot point was another tiny grenade thrown into the story. I get that it's supposed to be a Thriller so we need some thrilling moments, but by the end I would see one of these plot grenades and shrug my shoulders. Because of course that's how that happened, you couldn't find a more dramatic way to do it if you tried. And yet there were moments when the characters would show growth or bravery that they didn't show before in those moments. Not to give too big of a spoiler here (spoiler warning, obviously), which was annoying the first time and pissed me off the second. Maybe it's the amount of reading I've done (or even movies I've watched) but I get so tired of the stakes being lowered by bringing characters back from the dead so to speak. It doesn't feel like playing fair with the reader. Another thing I enjoyed from the novel was how the magic worked. Each character had their own type of magic and they would call on "the Ruin" which is the dominion of the devil in order to power the magic. Cicely is a little odd since she has to actually travel through a rift in the real world to the Ruin in order to access her magic which came with its own consequences.
So, overall, I'm just conflicted. I had a good enough time reading this. I didn't hate it and I didn't feel like I had wasted my time by the end. But the plot grenades got old and I spent a lot of time wanting to shake some sense into some characters. I think if you aren't as jaded as me (or you've just read less than me) then you're more likely to come out of this one with a win.
This one was a mixed bag for me. The premise is just so spot on for something I could love. I love rich people drama, family drama, magic, mysteries. And we get all of that. To a degree. Everything really hinges on this one big family secret, but the way it's drawn out throughout the novel was getting on my nerves by the end. And yet I like what the actual secret was. I liked that some people had blood on their hands (theirs and other people's) and that the author wasn't fully pulling their punches. I also struggled with the way every single plot point was another tiny grenade thrown into the story. I get that it's supposed to be a Thriller so we need some thrilling moments, but by the end I would see one of these plot grenades and shrug my shoulders. Because of course that's how that happened, you couldn't find a more dramatic way to do it if you tried. And yet there were moments when the characters would show growth or bravery that they didn't show before in those moments. Not to give too big of a spoiler here (spoiler warning, obviously), which was annoying the first time and pissed me off the second. Maybe it's the amount of reading I've done (or even movies I've watched) but I get so tired of the stakes being lowered by bringing characters back from the dead so to speak. It doesn't feel like playing fair with the reader. Another thing I enjoyed from the novel was how the magic worked. Each character had their own type of magic and they would call on "the Ruin" which is the dominion of the devil in order to power the magic. Cicely is a little odd since she has to actually travel through a rift in the real world to the Ruin in order to access her magic which came with its own consequences.
So, overall, I'm just conflicted. I had a good enough time reading this. I didn't hate it and I didn't feel like I had wasted my time by the end. But the plot grenades got old and I spent a lot of time wanting to shake some sense into some characters. I think if you aren't as jaded as me (or you've just read less than me) then you're more likely to come out of this one with a win.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you netgalley and random house
Our Wicked Gifts • Kathryn Foxfield
One phrase: deadly family secrets with devilish magic 🖤🔮
This book was such a delicious surprise.
Our Wicked Gifts has rich family drama, murder mystery tension, dark magic, a deal with the devil, and a family so dysfunctional they make every holiday dinner you’ve ever survived look peaceful.
The Winter family has power, money, influence, and supernatural gifts… but all of that came with a price. Their souls.
Cicely is the black sheep of the family, overlooked because her gift is “only” uncovering secrets. Which honestly feels wildly useful when your family is full of liars, murder suspects, and morally questionable rich people, but okay Winters, stay delusional.
Then her uncle turns up dead at a masquerade ball, and suddenly Cicely becomes the one person her family actually needs.
What I loved most was how twisty this felt. I usually figure out mysteries early, but this one kept me guessing and pulling at every thread. The pacing is fast, the reveals keep coming, and the entire story has this sharp, sinister energy that makes it hard to put down.
And then there’s Soren.
Banished to the underworld by Cicely’s family and possibly back for revenge? Say less. His dynamic with Cicely brought that perfect kiss or kill tension where you are never fully sure if they should trust each other, betray each other, or kiss in the middle of a murder investigation.
The Winter family itself is a whole mess in the best way. Everyone has motives. Everyone has secrets. Everyone feels like they could be lying directly to your face and calling it tradition.
✨ Tropes & vibes:
🔮 dark family magic
🎭 masquerade murder
🖤 kiss or kill tension
👀 family secrets
😈 deal with the devil
💰 rich corrupt family drama
🗝 secret uncovering FMC
⚔️ revenge vibes
🩸 fantasy thriller
🕯 dark YA mystery
📚 Read this if you like:
The Inheritance Games, House of Hollow, One of Us Is Lying, Succession style family drama, magical secrets, and murder mysteries where every character looks guilty.
This was fast, twisty, dark, and so much fun. Perfect for anyone who loves their fantasy with secrets, betrayal, and just a little bit of “wow, this family needs therapy.”
#OurWickedGifts #KathrynFoxfield #YAFantasy #FantasyThriller #BookReview
Our Wicked Gifts • Kathryn Foxfield
One phrase: deadly family secrets with devilish magic 🖤🔮
This book was such a delicious surprise.
Our Wicked Gifts has rich family drama, murder mystery tension, dark magic, a deal with the devil, and a family so dysfunctional they make every holiday dinner you’ve ever survived look peaceful.
The Winter family has power, money, influence, and supernatural gifts… but all of that came with a price. Their souls.
Cicely is the black sheep of the family, overlooked because her gift is “only” uncovering secrets. Which honestly feels wildly useful when your family is full of liars, murder suspects, and morally questionable rich people, but okay Winters, stay delusional.
Then her uncle turns up dead at a masquerade ball, and suddenly Cicely becomes the one person her family actually needs.
What I loved most was how twisty this felt. I usually figure out mysteries early, but this one kept me guessing and pulling at every thread. The pacing is fast, the reveals keep coming, and the entire story has this sharp, sinister energy that makes it hard to put down.
And then there’s Soren.
Banished to the underworld by Cicely’s family and possibly back for revenge? Say less. His dynamic with Cicely brought that perfect kiss or kill tension where you are never fully sure if they should trust each other, betray each other, or kiss in the middle of a murder investigation.
The Winter family itself is a whole mess in the best way. Everyone has motives. Everyone has secrets. Everyone feels like they could be lying directly to your face and calling it tradition.
✨ Tropes & vibes:
🔮 dark family magic
🎭 masquerade murder
🖤 kiss or kill tension
👀 family secrets
😈 deal with the devil
💰 rich corrupt family drama
🗝 secret uncovering FMC
⚔️ revenge vibes
🩸 fantasy thriller
🕯 dark YA mystery
📚 Read this if you like:
The Inheritance Games, House of Hollow, One of Us Is Lying, Succession style family drama, magical secrets, and murder mysteries where every character looks guilty.
This was fast, twisty, dark, and so much fun. Perfect for anyone who loves their fantasy with secrets, betrayal, and just a little bit of “wow, this family needs therapy.”
#OurWickedGifts #KathrynFoxfield #YAFantasy #FantasyThriller #BookReview
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
”Tonight, my family's future hangs in the balance. If the boy lives, the Winters will fall.
When you're a Winter, family comes first, and killing this boy is the only way to protect the people I love.”
Soren Ashwood was someone who needed to be taken care of, and for Cicely Winter, she was responsible for making that possible, but when she hesitates to kill him, he grabs the knife and aims it at her mother, Allegra Winter. Almost killing her. That night, Soren dies, but what if he isn’t completely dead.?
”Why do you make me feel like I'm the one who's burning up from the inside out?”
Someone is coming for the Winters, killing them one by one. Can Cicely figure out who the killer is and the reason why the Winters needed to get rid of Soren? Can she truly trust Soren, or is he behind it all? Find out July 7th, 2026!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I definitely could relate to Cicely Winter and not feeling enough or good enough sometimes, and it can be a lot on someone her age or for anyone. I’m so glad we get to see her blossom into herself during the ending, and I was so proud to see her live life for herself.
That ending had me in tears. Did I expect that ending no and I don’t think I’m okay, but I do understand the meaning behind it, and for that also puts me in tears for Cicely’s growth. 😭
I was in love with these characters besides… a few and we don’t have to get into it, I believe we all know who after finishing Our Wicked Gifts. But if you like me to say it was Allegra. Sorry, not sorry 😭
Thank you to Kathryn Foxfield, Random House, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
When you're a Winter, family comes first, and killing this boy is the only way to protect the people I love.”
Soren Ashwood was someone who needed to be taken care of, and for Cicely Winter, she was responsible for making that possible, but when she hesitates to kill him, he grabs the knife and aims it at her mother, Allegra Winter. Almost killing her. That night, Soren dies, but what if he isn’t completely dead.?
”Why do you make me feel like I'm the one who's burning up from the inside out?”
Someone is coming for the Winters, killing them one by one. Can Cicely figure out who the killer is and the reason why the Winters needed to get rid of Soren? Can she truly trust Soren, or is he behind it all? Find out July 7th, 2026!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I definitely could relate to Cicely Winter and not feeling enough or good enough sometimes, and it can be a lot on someone her age or for anyone. I’m so glad we get to see her blossom into herself during the ending, and I was so proud to see her live life for herself.
That ending had me in tears. Did I expect that ending no and I don’t think I’m okay, but I do understand the meaning behind it, and for that also puts me in tears for Cicely’s growth. 😭
I was in love with these characters besides… a few and we don’t have to get into it, I believe we all know who after finishing Our Wicked Gifts. But if you like me to say it was Allegra. Sorry, not sorry 😭
Thank you to Kathryn Foxfield, Random House, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was lucky enough to win an ARC at YALC. It has not affected my opinion.
I'd never got round to any of Kathryn's previous thrillers, despite really really wanting to having heard such good things.
Guys, the hype is real. Unlike her previous books this one brings in fantastical and magical elements as the core spine of the narrative, not least of all that Morley is a posh town in Oxfordshire (as some one who actually lived in the real Morley this was hysterical).
2 generations ago, the matriarch of the Winters family made a deal with the devil. Now billionaires, each member of the family has a magical gift. When Cecily's uncle dies after a masquerade ball that sees the family humiliated in front of the world, Cecily, and her gift for finding secrets, sets out to discover just who it is that's trying to destroy their family, she just hopes it isn't the mysterious boy she's falling for.
I was utterly gripped and only put the book down because I lost the battle with my body and had to go to sleep. The magic system is dark, gothic and as vicious as you'd expect from a deal with the devil. The characters are fascinating, complicated and deeply and brilliantly drawn, in a family as toxic as the Winters you'd expect to hate all of them but honestly you won't. I really enjoyed how Cecily's relationship developed with Soren and how she grew because of it. She's still not a good person at the end but the tantalising possibilities of the ending have me giddy.
The twists are delicious and the surprises will have you desperately turning the pages.
An easy five stars.
I'd never got round to any of Kathryn's previous thrillers, despite really really wanting to having heard such good things.
Guys, the hype is real. Unlike her previous books this one brings in fantastical and magical elements as the core spine of the narrative, not least of all that Morley is a posh town in Oxfordshire (as some one who actually lived in the real Morley this was hysterical).
2 generations ago, the matriarch of the Winters family made a deal with the devil. Now billionaires, each member of the family has a magical gift. When Cecily's uncle dies after a masquerade ball that sees the family humiliated in front of the world, Cecily, and her gift for finding secrets, sets out to discover just who it is that's trying to destroy their family, she just hopes it isn't the mysterious boy she's falling for.
I was utterly gripped and only put the book down because I lost the battle with my body and had to go to sleep. The magic system is dark, gothic and as vicious as you'd expect from a deal with the devil. The characters are fascinating, complicated and deeply and brilliantly drawn, in a family as toxic as the Winters you'd expect to hate all of them but honestly you won't. I really enjoyed how Cecily's relationship developed with Soren and how she grew because of it. She's still not a good person at the end but the tantalising possibilities of the ending have me giddy.
The twists are delicious and the surprises will have you desperately turning the pages.
An easy five stars.
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May 11, 2026⬦ Accomplice to Murder FMC x Vengeful Murder Victim MMC
⬦ Toxic Rich Family Shenanigans
⬦ Creative Magical Powers
⬦ Insta-love Enemies to Lovers
⬦ Contemporary Murder Mystery
SYNPOSIS: Four years ago, FMC was pressured into helping murder MMC by her cult-y family who all have magic powers. Now, someone is trying to ruin her family's reputation AND killing them off one by one. FMC with her magical secret seeking powers is intent on finding out who and why, but her family is hiding many secrets of their own, and FMC needs to overcome her desire for her mother's love and approval to finally bring the truth to light.
I really wanted to love this story, because the premise sounded so up my alley 😭 However, perhaps I was expecting too much of a serious mystery and was therefore disappointed when FMC's investigations were so reliant on using her powers, which caused much of the investigations to feel repetitive. The pacing for the plot also felt off-kilter to me because so many catastrophic things would happen (like people in her family supposedly being murdered), but then they'd take a break to go sunbathe by the lake or have a boating competition, so the tension kinda fell flat. However, I enjoyed the last 20% of the book more when the mystery came together, and was left very satisfied by FMC's character development and decisions in the last 2% of the story 😊 So overall, although the mystery FELT slow to set up, the finale was well tied up and made sense.
⬦ Toxic Rich Family Shenanigans
⬦ Creative Magical Powers
⬦ Insta-love Enemies to Lovers
⬦ Contemporary Murder Mystery
SYNPOSIS: Four years ago, FMC was pressured into helping murder MMC by her cult-y family who all have magic powers. Now, someone is trying to ruin her family's reputation AND killing them off one by one. FMC with her magical secret seeking powers is intent on finding out who and why, but her family is hiding many secrets of their own, and FMC needs to overcome her desire for her mother's love and approval to finally bring the truth to light.
I really wanted to love this story, because the premise sounded so up my alley 😭 However, perhaps I was expecting too much of a serious mystery and was therefore disappointed when FMC's investigations were so reliant on using her powers, which caused much of the investigations to feel repetitive. The pacing for the plot also felt off-kilter to me because so many catastrophic things would happen (like people in her family supposedly being murdered), but then they'd take a break to go sunbathe by the lake or have a boating competition, so the tension kinda fell flat. However, I enjoyed the last 20% of the book more when the mystery came together, and was left very satisfied by FMC's character development and decisions in the last 2% of the story 😊 So overall, although the mystery FELT slow to set up, the finale was well tied up and made sense.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me hooked from the start! I could tell from the first page I was going to enjoy it. I liked the plot, magic system, lore, characters, all of it. But my main complaint that caused me to knock off a star... Our FMC 😭
Don't get me wrong, I liked her character and I love where the ending went. But girl. There were some glaring relationship issues with her family I just did not buy. So much negative going on with certain ones - I didn't buy her sobbing over their conflicts/drama. Not to mention some very specific choices revolving around them ❌🙅♀️. She's smarter than that. But. It Ieads the plot so I guess that's the most likely reason.
The concept of the family, magic system, gifts, etc was great though. I liked the dynamic of everyone (it was giving a little Encanto vibes TBH) and how they played together/added to the mystery. In particular I enjoyed the bits where she was actively working with them to get shit done - it was a more fun dynamic.
That cliffhanger - this felt like a dynamic origin story though maybe too early to call it villainous yet. I'll be back for book 2 to see where it's going! 👀
This book had me hooked from the start! I could tell from the first page I was going to enjoy it. I liked the plot, magic system, lore, characters, all of it. But my main complaint that caused me to knock off a star... Our FMC 😭
Don't get me wrong, I liked her character and I love where the ending went. But girl. There were some glaring relationship issues with her family I just did not buy. So much negative going on with certain ones - I didn't buy her sobbing over their conflicts/drama. Not to mention some very specific choices revolving around them ❌🙅♀️. She's smarter than that. But. It Ieads the plot so I guess that's the most likely reason.
The concept of the family, magic system, gifts, etc was great though. I liked the dynamic of everyone (it was giving a little Encanto vibes TBH) and how they played together/added to the mystery. In particular I enjoyed the bits where she was actively working with them to get shit done - it was a more fun dynamic.
That cliffhanger - this felt like a dynamic origin story though maybe too early to call it villainous yet. I'll be back for book 2 to see where it's going! 👀
March 30, 2026
Our Wicked Gifts Review on K-Books
Our Wicked Gifts Review on Instagram
Our Wicked Gifts Review on TikTok
“Moths actually have an incredibly sensitive olfactory system, and you smell overwhelmingly like lies and narcissism.”
Wow! There are no words to really put into context how much this book completely blew me away! I was really excited to win a proof of this book from YALC 2025, but honestly I had never read anything by this author before, and so I didn’t really know anything about this book. I go into the majority of books completely blind, so when picking this one up the only thing I knew is that it was a mystery/thriller kind of book. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a paranormal mystery/thriller, and this was such a fantastic read. I couldn’t put it down.
Our Wicked Gifts is a paranormal thriller that follows the Winter family. They are billionaires who made a deal with the devil for power and influence. This book starts with the family making a sacrifice in order to keep these powers. Years later, Winters are dying in mysterious circumstances. As panic ensures, Cicely, the underdog of the family who has never really felt like she fit in, is determined to find out what is happening to her family. But is it the sinister spirit that Cicely can see and seems to be haunting her family, or is it something more mundane? How can she figure it out when it seems every member of the family seem to be hiding a multitude of dark secrets.
Honestly this book was utterly fantastic! I loved every single moment of this book and it kept me guessing right until the very end. I really loved how the majority of the characters were morally grey. Even Cicely, whose perspective we are experiencing is not really a good person. She is selfish and will happily hurt someone if it means she gets power or influence or her own way. I actually loved this about the book. I know everyone is obsessed with the morally grey men in books, but I really do think we need more complex female characters, and we definitely get that here.
I loved the paranormal / spirit element to this book. I just really feel like it upped the stakes that much more throughout the mystery. It really added to the depth of the story and the characters because you really are trying to guess (along with Cicily) whether it’s the ghostly spirit doing all of this or whether it is just someone ‘normal’ because god knows this family have enemies. It kept me on my toes all the way throughout the book and I truly think that that’s the reason I loved it so much. I remember getting to the 80% mark and I still had not figured out ‘who dunnit’… it really impressed me that by that point I was still like ‘I have no idea where this is going to go.’ It kept me guessing right until the end, and while I figured out some of it, I didn’t get the specifics. This, to me, means that it’s a fantastic book if I can’t guess it.
Our Wicked Gifts was such a phenomenal read. There were elements in the ending that weren’t entirely wrapped up, and I found myself wanting maybe another chapter or two after the twist ending but overall I loved this book. As soon as I finished it, I went and ordered Katheryn’s other books and I cannot wait to dive into them. If you’re a fan of creepy and spooky vibes, a fantastic mystery and a little hint of romance, then this book is not to be missed out on. I truly loved every single moment of it and I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future. Katheryn is a definite new-to-me author going on the favourites shelf!
“I think maybe the finality is what makes life matter. You have your time to do with as you choose, and that’s it.”
Our Wicked Gifts Review on Instagram
Our Wicked Gifts Review on TikTok
“Moths actually have an incredibly sensitive olfactory system, and you smell overwhelmingly like lies and narcissism.”
Wow! There are no words to really put into context how much this book completely blew me away! I was really excited to win a proof of this book from YALC 2025, but honestly I had never read anything by this author before, and so I didn’t really know anything about this book. I go into the majority of books completely blind, so when picking this one up the only thing I knew is that it was a mystery/thriller kind of book. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a paranormal mystery/thriller, and this was such a fantastic read. I couldn’t put it down.
Our Wicked Gifts is a paranormal thriller that follows the Winter family. They are billionaires who made a deal with the devil for power and influence. This book starts with the family making a sacrifice in order to keep these powers. Years later, Winters are dying in mysterious circumstances. As panic ensures, Cicely, the underdog of the family who has never really felt like she fit in, is determined to find out what is happening to her family. But is it the sinister spirit that Cicely can see and seems to be haunting her family, or is it something more mundane? How can she figure it out when it seems every member of the family seem to be hiding a multitude of dark secrets.
Honestly this book was utterly fantastic! I loved every single moment of this book and it kept me guessing right until the very end. I really loved how the majority of the characters were morally grey. Even Cicely, whose perspective we are experiencing is not really a good person. She is selfish and will happily hurt someone if it means she gets power or influence or her own way. I actually loved this about the book. I know everyone is obsessed with the morally grey men in books, but I really do think we need more complex female characters, and we definitely get that here.
I loved the paranormal / spirit element to this book. I just really feel like it upped the stakes that much more throughout the mystery. It really added to the depth of the story and the characters because you really are trying to guess (along with Cicily) whether it’s the ghostly spirit doing all of this or whether it is just someone ‘normal’ because god knows this family have enemies. It kept me on my toes all the way throughout the book and I truly think that that’s the reason I loved it so much. I remember getting to the 80% mark and I still had not figured out ‘who dunnit’… it really impressed me that by that point I was still like ‘I have no idea where this is going to go.’ It kept me guessing right until the end, and while I figured out some of it, I didn’t get the specifics. This, to me, means that it’s a fantastic book if I can’t guess it.
Our Wicked Gifts was such a phenomenal read. There were elements in the ending that weren’t entirely wrapped up, and I found myself wanting maybe another chapter or two after the twist ending but overall I loved this book. As soon as I finished it, I went and ordered Katheryn’s other books and I cannot wait to dive into them. If you’re a fan of creepy and spooky vibes, a fantastic mystery and a little hint of romance, then this book is not to be missed out on. I truly loved every single moment of it and I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future. Katheryn is a definite new-to-me author going on the favourites shelf!
“I think maybe the finality is what makes life matter. You have your time to do with as you choose, and that’s it.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a fun, fast-paced, teen-reader-friendly ride! We've got a dysfunctional family with complicated relationships with one another who have made a deal with the devil for special powers in exchange for their souls. The concepts of sacrifice and power are done really well while the reader follows Cicely's journey as she comes to terms with her power of unearthing secrets. The genre-bending is fantastically done. We have a romantasy, murder mystery with some thriller aspects. Someone else compared it to Succession meets The Raven Scholar and I think that's a great description. I was actually caught off guard with some of the twists and reveals which was a novel experience for me and I loved the family dynamic and how each character had a fully developed persona/role. A great time for anyone who loves any of the genres I mentioned!
A huge thank you to Kathryn Foxfield and Random House for the advance copy!
A huge thank you to Kathryn Foxfield and Random House for the advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Faustian bargain plot takes on a whole family and generations of the Winters reap many gifts. Money, power, wealth, and supernatural powers fall on this family in exchange for their souls until suddenly the family is threatened and Cicely quests for answers to what is behind the downfall. Mystery, romance, and a bit of dark urban fantasy collide into an absorbing story. Early on, Cicely's hunt yields a semi-obvious suspect, but she doesn't want to believe it, then there are curves and twists that complicate matters and add more suspects as things get worse. I enjoyed following the story to its end and the concluding choice that really fit for the character that had developed in drama.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Our Wicked Gifts is a dark mystery novel that some readers will devour. Cecily's ancestor made a deal with the devil to gain wealth and power, so each member of the Winter family now has a gift that comes from the power that was bestowed. The power of finding secrets is what Cecily was given and she puts it to use when members of her family start to turn up dead. Could the murderer be the masked man that she believes is someone that she thought her family killed in a ritual four years ago or could it be one of their own family members.
The story was well written and kept me wanting to find out what happened next. The relationship between Cecily and Soren was great and the relationships between the family members was believable.
The story was well written and kept me wanting to find out what happened next. The relationship between Cecily and Soren was great and the relationships between the family members was believable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 20% of the way through.
This was like a supernatural murder mystery Schitt's Creek I guess? Not a single likable character to be found, unlike Schitt's Creek.
The protagonist and her family are horrible human beings with "sassy" lines that just fall flat. The author spends one sentence explaining each family member's magic "gift" and moves on too quickly. There's a LOT of family members with a LOT of gifts to keep track of, and I still don't even understand the protagonist's gift, despite it being shown a few times.
It's a very chaotic book with self-serving characters that didn't appeal to me at all.
I know my opinion is unpopular, though.
This was like a supernatural murder mystery Schitt's Creek I guess? Not a single likable character to be found, unlike Schitt's Creek.
The protagonist and her family are horrible human beings with "sassy" lines that just fall flat. The author spends one sentence explaining each family member's magic "gift" and moves on too quickly. There's a LOT of family members with a LOT of gifts to keep track of, and I still don't even understand the protagonist's gift, despite it being shown a few times.
It's a very chaotic book with self-serving characters that didn't appeal to me at all.
I know my opinion is unpopular, though.
May 19, 2026
✨4 stars✨
I’ve read a few of Kathryn Foxfield’s YA horror/thrillers and really enjoyed them so I was intrigued by this and I’m so glad I enjoyed this!
This book has a lot of the elements of this author’s previous books with a low level fantastical twist which I found fascinating. Combine that with the family drama and murder mystery element and I was hooked from the beginning. Seriously though the opening of this book was one of the most attention- grabbing opening I’ve read in a while and once reading I just had to get to the bottom of what was going on!
Side note: who needs enemies when you have Allegra as a mother!
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I’ve read a few of Kathryn Foxfield’s YA horror/thrillers and really enjoyed them so I was intrigued by this and I’m so glad I enjoyed this!
This book has a lot of the elements of this author’s previous books with a low level fantastical twist which I found fascinating. Combine that with the family drama and murder mystery element and I was hooked from the beginning. Seriously though the opening of this book was one of the most attention- grabbing opening I’ve read in a while and once reading I just had to get to the bottom of what was going on!
Side note: who needs enemies when you have Allegra as a mother!
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. The summary sounded so intriguing and I immediately had to request. The story is centered around Cecily Winter and her family. They are quite something. Their ancestor made a deal with the devil which gave the Winter family special gifts. They each were different magical gifts. Although overall I definitely liked this story, there were few characters in the story that were actually likeable. They had their moments but sometimes it was a struggle to find any good qualities. The stories of their lives showed how much privilege and power corrupts. Soren, a young man, killed by the Winter family, was the most endearing of the group. This book had a lot going on but it was all so crazy that it was enthralling to read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to Random House Children's Books and the Author for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adore this book, and it has been an amazing addition to some of my favorite YA books ever. Something about it felt like the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, and that's my favorite series ever, so getting those vibes from this book was immaculate. All of the family humor and banter in the book was great, and I also enjoyed how fast-paced it was. Kathryn's writing flows really well and feels natural, so I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good YA read.
I absolutely adore this book, and it has been an amazing addition to some of my favorite YA books ever. Something about it felt like the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, and that's my favorite series ever, so getting those vibes from this book was immaculate. All of the family humor and banter in the book was great, and I also enjoyed how fast-paced it was. Kathryn's writing flows really well and feels natural, so I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good YA read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for this review copy.
Review:
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book now that I've finished it. I don't typically read mystery books, none have really appealed to me. This book had me guessing who was behind everything from page one. I kept changing my mind on who it was.
The magic was nicely woven through the story, and didn't feel like a MacGuffin, the magic mattered to the story and was connected with why everything was happening. How the magic works was a little glossed over, where it comes from is clear. But how it manifests in each family member is unclear. Which is fine, since that's not important to the plot. I just like knowing the tiny details when it come to magic systems.
There is a, kind of, romance in this book that I didn't hate. It was messy along with the rest of the story. It didn't overshadow the larger plot of the book of Cicley trying to uncover the mystery of why was targeted, and who is killing members of her family. It is loosely connected to it in a round-about way, but it doesn't overtake the rest of the story.
My main qualm is the ending, I don't know if I like it or not. It's very bitter-sweet, but more bitter for me. It certainly is a bold choice to end things that way. But I also feel that, for me, it undermines the journey and growth Cicley had through the book. Things do end a little open-ended, but I don't know if this is going to have a sequel or not. It could, but if it doesn't the semi-open ending closes out the story nicely.
Review:
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book now that I've finished it. I don't typically read mystery books, none have really appealed to me. This book had me guessing who was behind everything from page one. I kept changing my mind on who it was.
The magic was nicely woven through the story, and didn't feel like a MacGuffin, the magic mattered to the story and was connected with why everything was happening. How the magic works was a little glossed over, where it comes from is clear. But how it manifests in each family member is unclear. Which is fine, since that's not important to the plot. I just like knowing the tiny details when it come to magic systems.
There is a, kind of, romance in this book that I didn't hate. It was messy along with the rest of the story. It didn't overshadow the larger plot of the book of Cicley trying to uncover the mystery of why was targeted, and who is killing members of her family. It is loosely connected to it in a round-about way, but it doesn't overtake the rest of the story.
My main qualm is the ending, I don't know if I like it or not. It's very bitter-sweet, but more bitter for me. It certainly is a bold choice to end things that way. But I also feel that, for me, it undermines the journey and growth Cicley had through the book. Things do end a little open-ended, but I don't know if this is going to have a sequel or not. It could, but if it doesn't the semi-open ending closes out the story nicely.
May 4, 2026
4/5 stars! I enjoyed reading Our Wicked Gifts. I was intrigued from the prologue and could not put this book down. This book follows Cicely and her family the Winters. They are extremely powerful, rich and magical due to their deal with the devil. Cicely must decide for herself if she forges her own path or go along with family traditions. Our Wicked Gifts is releasing July 7, 2026. Thank you to Kathryn Foxfield, Random House Book’s and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, The publisher and Kathryn Foxfield for the ARC.
Actual rating - 3.5
Our wicked gifts had quite a slow and messy start for me, but it was definitely building up to something juicy so it managed to still keep my interest. I enjoyed the second half much more, it was full of family drama and the mystery and fantasy aspects were both interesting.
The characters were a bit hit or miss, I loved some of them but others were testing my patience a little.
It was a fun read overall, but some parts felt nearly as messy as the family drama.
Actual rating - 3.5
Our wicked gifts had quite a slow and messy start for me, but it was definitely building up to something juicy so it managed to still keep my interest. I enjoyed the second half much more, it was full of family drama and the mystery and fantasy aspects were both interesting.
The characters were a bit hit or miss, I loved some of them but others were testing my patience a little.
It was a fun read overall, but some parts felt nearly as messy as the family drama.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
love love love this book! it’s so fast paced and full of dark humor. the drama is juicy, the family is fighting, and the love interest broods like crazy.
there’s also a lovely message of learning to think for yourself and choose a path different from the one you were raised in. cicely’s journey was great.
safe to say i had fun here
there’s also a lovely message of learning to think for yourself and choose a path different from the one you were raised in. cicely’s journey was great.
safe to say i had fun here
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Per request of the publisher, the full review for this novel will go live on June 25rd, 2026.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Random House Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for this copy in advanced! I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the remainder of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Random House Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for this copy in advanced! I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the remainder of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a little slow getting started and I wanted to punch Cicely's family for the longest time, but once it got rolling this book was amazing. It sucked you in and didn't let go. Here's the problem, that ending...not a happy camper. I am assuming there is a follow-up somewhere coming and I will wait...with no patience.
I received this ARC from NetGalley, but my opinions are my own.
I received this ARC from NetGalley, but my opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this so much . I enjoyed how fast paced this was. The humor and banter was immaculate. I dont know about anyone else but I know enjoy reading about family drama and I must say the drama was delectable.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Really enjoyed it - maybe tried to be twisty one too many times, but overall I was hooked!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Actual: Debating between 4-5⭐, will update if needed) // Full review to come but definitely enjoyed this one!
May 25, 2026
It’s like if that Saltburn party was actually magic
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review to come !
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