Witch's Inheritance

by Paige Hender

A contemporary dark fantasy graphic novel about a young woman who discovers she comes from a long line of witches and is tasked with keeping her new town safe from the creatures lurking in the forest―for fans of E. M. Carroll, Molly Knox Ostertag, and Trung Le Nguyen.

Home is where the monsters are...

Edie Birch needs an escape from her crumbling life. When a death in the family leaves Edie the inheritor of a strange, towering house in the small town of Hart Creek, she doesn’t look back.

While she tries to connect with her estranged aunt and learn more about her mysterious family history, she uncovers a shocking truth: She comes from a long line of witches. The heir to her grandmother’s powers, Edie is Hart Creek’s only hope to keep away the beasts lurking at the forest’s edge. As she struggles to master her magic, she’ll enlist the help of local folklore nerd Leander and discovers secrets that will leave her questioning who the true monsters are . . .

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Fiction, Witches, Graphic Novels Comics

272 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2026

Reviews

[Gabby Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my ARC review. There is a chance that many changes will have been made to the book prior to its release in June 2026. Please keep this in mind when reading this review as some of my concerns may have been changed in this time.

When Edie finds out her grandmother passed, one who she didn’t even know existed, she also discovers that she is inheriting her late grandmothers home. As well as a lot more that she didn’t sign up for.

I am a graphic novel enthusiast and I found the art style of this book to be incredibly interesting and I felt it fit the style of book incredibly well. The art was my favorite part of the novel, set with warm neutrals and sepia tones. I loved how the theme of red, the color of the main characters, hair tied her to other plot points within the story. I also loved the diversity of the characters. I felt however that the imagery lacked a lot of foreshadowing that I am used to seeing in a graphic novel. The imagery usually makes up for what is left out in narration and dialogue. I felt like scenes of conflict also moved a little fast, with little change or understanding of what was happening from the images. Then following these moments of conflict the reader was transplanted into a new scene and it sometimes felt out of place.

I felt the story itself had a great concept of healing generational trauma. However I felt that the story itself was slightly disjointed. It moved quickly which didn’t allow for me, as a reader, to build an attachment to the characters. It also felt like the relationships between the characters formed a little too quickly for me to fully immerse myself into the dynamics between them. The Main Character, Edie, felt incredibly Gen Z coded and 2020, if that makes any sense. And this is no hate to Gen Z at all, because I love you all! But this felt like a stereotype of what others feel Gen Z is. She was giving “misunderstood” protagonist, very “no one could understand me”/tiktok coded with little growth until the very end. I felt the best writing of the entire story was in the flashback scenes. They were structured differently both in writing and design to show time difference and I wish that the entire book was structured like the flashbacks, and the flashbacks like the book. I also feel that many of the random sounds could have been removed, although once making it to the end of the book they made more sense, all of the; sighs, creaks and coos. There was also a plot hole about Edie’s graduation that I am still a bit confused on. Many of these concerns I’m sure will be fixed prior to the release of the book next June.

I thought the ending was very sweet and definitely made up for a lot of other aspects in the book that didn’t quite satisfies me the way I hoped.

Thank you Macmillan for the ARC

[Lost in Book Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello!

It feels like this month has been flying by, and I have been picking up some great reads and really making an effort to make space on my shelves this year. But for today’s review, I decided to pick up an E-ARC copy of the Witch’s Inheritance (thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion).

SPOILERS AHEAD

Edie is a young woman who has spent most of her life living with her father, but now she has inherited a house from someone on her mother’s side of the family. She decides to drive out to the home, and when she finally gets there after a bit of an issue, she is met by her aunt. This is wild for Edie, as she has never had much contact with her mother’s family, but she is definitely open to it. Her aunt has someone else with her, and Edie is interested in making friends with this person, should Edie decide to move into the house. But Edie quickly learns that her inheritance is so much more than the house itself.

I absolutely enjoyed my time with this graphic novel. Edie is on the adventure of a lifetime with the inheritance she has been given. She is in a new town, in an unfamiliar home, meeting new family members and townspeople, and learning things about herself that she never knew before. This was definitely a great graphic novel to pick up in the fall season. I highly recommend giving it a try when it hits shelves in July 2026!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Ink & Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What really made Witch’s Inheritance stand out for me were the incorporations of folklore and tradition. While the initial premise feels a bit familiar - a young woman discovering she comes from a long line of witches and must inherit their burden - the character growth and the way the folklore is woven into the story really help give it some individuality. The art and atmosphere of the graphic novel perfectly fit with the tone too.

Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Mimsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the e-ARC of Witch’s Inheritance!
4.5 / 5 ⭐

I really enjoyed Witch’s Inheritance, a baba yaga inspired graphic novel about Edie, a young witch carrying the weight of family curses and expectations. It has a unique art style and I really enjoyed Leander, an apprentice witch and certified D&D geek, and the goblins. The story diverged from the path I expected and was all the better for it. Content warnings, per the book: The book contains references to domestic abuse, depression, and suicide.

“For the House and I are one in our grief.”

[Lilly S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this a solid 4 stars but there was a whole bit of unnecessary conflict and there was a lot of gaslighting involved. I did not appreciate the way Leander and his friends gaslight Edie into feeling like she’s done something wrong. She does not use him as an emotional punching bag. She literally JUST comes to this town where a bunch of information and expectation is dropped on her THE NEXT DAY. This whole conflict with him is contrived. The friends and him talking about her behind her back, saying mean things but SHE needs to apologize? You’ve got to be kidding.
Aside from that, it was a cute story. I love the folklore and traditions. The art style isn’t for me but I got past it because of the story. Until we get to this made up conflict I was really enjoying it but after that it really soured me on continuing.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free arc in exchange for my review.

[Liv Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think this had good bones, but i unfortunately found it to be lacking a bit. i think i struggled a smidge with how some of the plot was communicated, which made me feel like things kind of jumped around. i had difficulty connecting to the story, but i did think it was interesting.

(thank u for netgalley & publisher for the arc!)

[Kasey (Mir) · Rating 3 out of 5]

review pending

[Jenna Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one by my cousin Paige! She’s the ggoat (greatest graphicnovelist of all time)

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Witch's Inheritance by Paige Hender is a YA folk horror graphic novel. When Edie runs away from her graduation, she goes to the house that she inherited from her estranged grandmother. When she arrives, she not only learns that she comes from a family of witches, but that the house itself is magic and her family brought over goblins that she needs to help ward the town from. But every time she tries, Edie freezes up.

Through Edie, the story deals with anxiety or panic attacks, though they are never mentioned by name. We can see how the amount of pressure she receives often leads to her spiraling and then running away, which sometimes includes her not calling the people looking for her. I thought this helped to show that Edie is flawed and now actually dealing with her anxiety, but it is frustrating that she won't just let people know where she is or where she went. I fully believe a teenager figuring out what mental health even is would do that, I just also wanted to shake her.

The folklore aspects are tied to Ukrainian and shared Eastern European stories, such as the house with chicken feet, though it does have a new spin on it. I did appreciate that it was explicitly Ukrainian and not vaguely Slavic or Russian as so much of the fantasy and horror dealing with these stories is either Russian or just lumped into a vague shape. I don't know a ton about Ukrainian goblins and how they might or might not be different from Russian ones, but I did like the designs and I did like the use of more traditional dress at various points.

I struggled to decide if this was a contemporary fantasy, a paranormal, or a folk horror as all felt plausible to me, but I feel it leans into folk horror because of how it combines folklore and witchcraft with generational trauma. Some readers of horror might not find moments that are frightening to them, but there were some scenes that I felt did get to the levels that I expect of a YA horror that could also be feasibly read by a thirteen or fourteen-year-old.

I would recommend this to fans of folk horror looking for a YA and readers of witchy graphic novels who want more folklore

[Puritears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC!

Witch’s Inheritance stuns with its charming, folk art style and diverse cast of characters. I was blown away by the paneling and the mix between muted and vibrant colors. Going into the story, I thought it would be rather predictable or just a typical coming-of-age witch story. I was wrong in the best way. The story is rich in culture and complexity, making it a very engaging read. Edie is a type of character that I enjoy, in that she reminds me of Mae from Night in the Woods; she is messy, insecure, and reluctant to go along with the narrative. Despite her resistance to her role as the town witch, she is determined to dig deep through her family’s roots and get to the bottom of the conflict.
There are some things that I found difficult to follow because I wish there were clearer panels for them. Some transitions are a bit rough so I found myself going back a page or two to try to make out what’s happening. I think that the conflict between Leander and Edie isn’t fleshed out enough because we don’t really see his inner struggles and his outburst feels a bit out of nowhere. That may be the point however, as the narrative focuses so much on Edie’s struggles that we “neglect” Leander’s point of view. I do think, however, that Leander goes along with how his friends tell him he feels about Edie in a way that is frustrating and I don’t see her as treating him as her “emotional punching bag”. This could be my own lack of understanding of the dynamic the narrative is building.
There were some great bits of representation in the story like Leander’s stimming and the stickers on his laptop. However, I wondered a bit about Leander’s sexuality because the color palette for the flag sticker suggests that he is a gay man but there are some strange nods to a romance between him and Edie. I think that they work well as close friends and wish this element was clearer, especially if the story is marketed as LGBT+. (Not saying that neither of them could be bisexual. If that’s the case, the sticker should be edited in the final draft.) I do love the idea of a romance between Edie and Mel for a potential sequel to this.
I loved the layered conflicts between the house, her family, and the Good Folk. The way the story uses flashbacks to build the foundation of the main problem was very compelling and I cried. I found the way the Good Folk are designed to be extremely appealing; they were cute but could be seen as dangerous. This, to me, is a well-written story and I can’t wait for others to read it, especially if they are experiencing grief, societal pressures, and intergenerational trauma.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one. It is such a fresh, engaging dark fantasy graphic novel, especially because it leans heavily into Ukrainian folklore, a mythology that is hardly common in mainstream media. What I found particularly cool was how the story uses these folklore elements. It features the iconic image of a living house on chicken legs, but instead of just dropping in the classic Baba Yaga, the book turns it into something entirely unique. The house acts as a beautiful, physical manifestation of the family’s generational grief. Taking a well-known mythological concept and recontextualizing it to serve the emotional core of the story was fantastic.

The strongest points of this book are undeniably the narrative and the gorgeous, moody artwork. I loved the bold color palette, the messy, expressive style, and the beautiful, intricate designs of the goblins. The character designs for the side cast were also excellent, and I appreciated that the secondary characters felt like real people with their own lives, rather than just flat tools serving the main plot. A particular highlight for me was reading through the ancestor Vera Vovk's diary, the art in those specific segments was extra stunning, and the way the history and secrets of the town unfold was both clever and highly satisfying.

Our protagonist, Edie, is an authentically messy person. Her high anxiety completely takes over at times, leading her to make a lot of passive or bad decisions. She can occasionally feel a little unlikable because she lashes out and gets a bit self-centered. But that is a very realistic portrayal of severe anxiety. When you're that overwhelmed, you genuinely forget to think about other people's problems. I really appreciated that the story didn't let her off the hook for this and actually addressed her lack of reciprocity in her friendships. Given how genuinely messed up her situation is, her behavior is understandable at the very least.

My only real criticism is that the resolution felt a bit too neat and "la-di-da." In reality, people always look for someone to blame, so it’s hard to believe the villagers would be so incredibly quick to move past generational grudges after learning the truth. It's even harder to believe they would immediately accept things they've hated and feared their entire lives with open arms. However, because this is fundamentally a story about family and how generational trauma extends far beyond what we can foresee, I didn't mind the overly tidy town resolution too much.

Ultimately, this had so much narrative "meat" to it and kept me fully engaged from start to finish. It’s an incredibly fun, meaningful read that I highly recommend!

[Sarah Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid coming of age that examines how toxic coping can become noxious family tradition and create generational trauma through difficult expectations. Edie is serving real eldest daughter energy (even though she's an only child) with too much to live up to, seen largely as a stand in for her deadbeat mother by her aunt, who grew up in said mother's shadow.

I had definitely hoped more was going on with the goblins and the town and was not disappointed as the revelations came. There's not much explained of the magic, though. So if you want a well defined system look else where, but I will say I don't really consider that much of a flaw. Sometimes magic is there largely for flavoring and that's okay.

Now, I feel like the ball was... not quite dropped, but there was a bit of fumbling with it when it come to Leander. I feel like just a smidge too much grace is given to him, the narrative acting as if him forcing smiles everywhere, never complaining about anything ever, and quietly resenting Edie's inheritance is on her for not noticing. Rather than her just being easy to blame, easy to be angry at, next to how his dad and Edie's aunt (and his mentor) treats him. People pleasers do somewhat bring it on themselves when their yes-man-ing overwhelms them, and while Edie's depression, anxiety, and avoidance issues do cause problems of their own I feel her own struggle and growth is unnecessarily tied to how it impacts his well being. To which I would counter, it's not on HER that he feels she's 'wasting her potential,' so much as it is on what he's grown up with. And that belief of his is more toxic to him than most of anything Edie actually did. So much of his actions are just more piling onto Edie of what the Vovx heir should be. And yes, I use what deliberately there.

Especially that when we get told '(Edie) only hangs out with you in a crisis' feels weird when it's him initiating every social encounter. She's not so much using him so much as she's so depressed she's just going with the flow of whatever he suggests. She even wanted him to go and spend time with his friends on his own, HE invited her along! If what he needs is some space from her, then he's doing a shit job of seeking it out and needs to acknowledge that! It feels as if his friends entirely misunderstood the situation with them because all they had was Leander's biased telling and that never gets reckoned with. Apparently they feel that Leander has been 'stuck with the witch girl's when really hes just putting Edie before himself when Edie never asked him to! And then acting like it's her fault he does that! Similarly his "why you trying to pick a fight with me," when he had been the one insulting her a sentence prior!

I don't think the narrative fully reckons with how the toxic clash of their flaws is on BOTH of them, besides from Leander's quick "I shouldn't have talked about you behind you back. A real friend wouldn't," that bafflingly gets Edie just quickly saying he's been the realest friend. Like no, he's been acting like a PA more than a friend to her! And it's not Edie's fault for not being able to fully parse that difference because again, Leander rarely does anything that isn't agreeable. Edie has known him for what felt like days spread over a few weeks, yet she is expected to see Leander's struggles when her aunt and his father don't after years of knowing him.

... okay so maybe I was lying to myself and I really do feel the ball was dropped quite a bit with him. Especially with eeeeehhh the little bit of romantic ship tease they get at the end, sure I kind of get that but also *groan*. This is a coming of age story for teens, so I especially just want them to walk away with the likely intended message of 'try to be attuned to the needs of those around you' and not 'be a mind reader when your friend fails to communicate his most basic of needs.'

Overall there's enough other meat to this tale I really do recommend it, the art is good and delightfully creepy, I just do wonder what this tale might have been if it had been streamlined to just Edie and her family trauma. Or if Leander's own journey felt more well woven in, as the most of what we get of a resolution to all of his deal is standing by Edie's side when she has to go against the common thinking (which perhaps undercuts her strength of that moment hmmmmm) which I guess means he'll stop being such a toxic people pleaser.

I especially feel like this would be a good read for fans of The Witch Boy series, as there's some common thread about the toxicity of traditions and how family will fail you.

[Aurora deTag · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel was a quick, dark fantasy read exploring emotional, deep themes accompanied by nice art.

The story follows Edie who after graduation inherits her grandmother’s house, but when she goes to live there she finds out that she has magic. The whole town has expectations for her to use that magic to save them, and she has to learn how her magic works and her family’s history along the way.

I enjoyed this as a short read, however it felt a bit chaotic and hard to understand at times. The art style was very nice and expressive, with each character having a distinct personality, but a lot of the scenes had a lot going on and it felt a bit overwhelming for me. I think this feeling of being overwhelmed as the reader is supposed to pair with how the main character is feeling but it made the book a bit more stressful than enjoyable at times. The use of a lot of different written fonts and borders to panels added to the feeling of chaos, which just isn’t my personal preference with graphic novels, but would definitely appeal to those who prefer darker tales. The plot overall was good when I could understand it, and there was a funny joke about library nepotism that I quite enjoyed.

The book explores a variety of themes, the main ones being friendship and the hardship of unexpected expectations being placed upon you. Overall it was a spooky, graphic novel with dark fantasy elements with a few plot twists, making it an enjoyable quick read.

I would recommend this graphic novel for those who enjoy short dark fantasy reads that will leave you contemplating everything. Out July 07 2026!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Paige Hender for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book!

[phoenix *ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️


Witch's Inheritance by Paige Hender is about Edie Birch, who inherits a strange house in a small town after her grandmother dies. When she moves there, she finds out that she comes from a long line of witches and that it’s now her job to protect the town from creatures in the forest.

I liked the overall idea of the story. The mix of folklore and witches was fun, and the creepy forest vibes were great. I also liked how the story talked about family trauma and how things get passed down through generations. Edie felt very real to me, especially with how lost and overwhelmed she was.

That being said, I thought the story was just okay in some parts. It felt kind of rushed, and not quite developed. There was so much going on at the end. I still enjoyed it, though.

But honestly, I was really annoyed with Leander and his friends. I mean, I liked him, but why were they making Edie feel bad when she didn’t even do anything wrong? It felt unfair. He kept putting pressure on her without saying what he actually needed, and then somehow it turned into her fault. She wasn't treating him like a "emotional punchbag" and saying that she doesn't even care about how it affects him is just stupid. YOU DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH HER. She struggled and he projected it all on himself. They both have their problems, but that just wasn't okay. I hated that she apologized. That part frustrated me a lot and didn’t feel fully worked through.

The illustrations were pretty, even if the art style isn’t my personal favorite. The colors were beautiful and moody, and I loved the design of the house and the creatures. Some panels were really stunning and fit the dark fairy tale feeling perfectly. Even if the style isn’t exactly what I usually go for, I can’t deny that it looked really good.

Overall, it was a nice story with a lot potential.


This books comes out on July 7th, 2026.

Thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edie Birch discovers that not only has she inherited her grandmother’s house, but that she also had a grandmother, as her mother is estranged from the entire family. She had no idea that she had an aunt either. But the most extraordinary thing is that this house has chicken legs, like Baba Yaga’s, and has a personality too.

Her aunt fills her in that the family are all witches, and this is the house they have lived in since they migrated to America from Ukraine, where they brought their magic, both good and evil.

Edie doesn’t like people to look at her, and would be perfectly happy to live in the house, in the woods, by herself, and be done with it. But there are “things” that have happened in the town, evil spirits that have to be kept away, and there is a ritual that needs to be done by Edie, since she is the latest witch.

But things are not what they seem. And Edie has to do research to find the real truth of her family and the strange house, and the demons of the woods.

Enjoyable book, with twists and turns, and a very human Edie, who has to figure things out for herself, and who she should and shouldn't trust. Nice illustrations, including using sepia tone to show then things that happened in the past, and full color for the present.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on the 7th of July 2026.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Well, this is a dark, sinister graphic novel, and it's packed with some great coming of age content and some fun witchy behavior. If you're like me and just want to see more architecture by whatever built Baba Yaga's digs, you can show up for that, too.

Edie travels randomly from Irvine, CA (ummm...an anteater enthusiast?) across the country to see her now deceased grandmother's home and figure out what went on with her at her recent graduation. Now, she's in a town full of goblins and family lore and expectations, and she's not too interested in any of that from the start.

At times, I felt like I wanted smoother transitions between ideas and events. Some of this read a little choppy for me, and that came through a combo of missed connections in plotting and illustration. That noted, this is an intriguing (if dark) story overall, and the illustrations really heighten the sinister vibes. I will add that I was really bothered by the shading on Edie's face. Instead of rosy cheeks or witchy vibes, I was getting something more like sick person in need of medical care. I found myself getting distracted by that too often.

I'll look forward to sharing this one with my students.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Lua]

Edie Birch has a complicated feelings about her estranged mother's side of the family, but she doesn't know much about them, so when her grandmother passes away and leaves her the family home -- a cottage in the woods -- she takes her chance to learn about her background. What she discovers in the small town of Hart Creek, though, ranges from secrets and misunderstandings to actual magic. With the help of new friends and family, will she be able to untangle several generations' worth of secrets and lies, and help heal what's been broken for many decades?

I was a bit on the fence about this book. The art is really gorgeous, 5/5 stars, and the story is intriguing, filled out beautifully with the background of Edie's family coming from Ukraine, and the folklore they brought with them. Every individual part is charming (Leander and Darya, the public library, Leander's friend group, the family history and relationships, the various magical creatures, not to mention the town itself) but I felt like to accommodate it all, the book should have been three times as long, or cut a few of the elements to go deeper on the family history part of it. All in all, a beautifully drawn, coming-of-age and finding-your-roots story that is a little too big for the number of pages into which it is squished, but still very much worth a read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Olive's Diary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ rounded up to 4 ⭐

I really adored the art style especially the flashback scenes. I appreciate the use folklore and multigenerational traditions to set the background of the story. As a lost 20 something I really connected with Edie, and her trying to find her way and place in life. I loved that she dug through her family history and not only discovered more not only about herself, but the multigenerational family trauma that still lingers. While diving into this new life she meets her Aunt and Leander, both of whom left a bad taste in my mouth. Don't get me wrong I absolutely loved Leander's character design and adored his character for about three fourths of the book but after not communicating he lost my admiration. Although, thinking about this now I do believe this humanizes him and makes him more relatable. Maybe I'm just jealous he has library nepotism. While Leander had a redemption arc, Edie's aunt did not and kind of faded into oblivion after the final shocking reveal. Overall, the story was good but really struggled with pacing, and because of this it felt like too many things were going on. Interestingly, while the main plot struggled, the flashbacks were perfectly paced and remained the most engaging parts of the book. If you're a fan of beautiful art and Slavic folklore this is definitely worth picking up.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always really liked and gravitated toward coming-of-age stories, especially ones centered around magic and family, and this was no exception! I was immediately drawn to the art style and earthy color palette, and I think it worked perfectly with the more natural magic system in Paige Hender’s graphic novel, Witch’s Inheritance. I also think it captured the moments when the main character, Edie, felt any emotion too strongly. For example, her fear and the reactions to it, which helped add to the eeriness in scenes where she was being chased or watched.

Some of my favorite parts of Hender’s story were Edie uncovering the mystery of her family’s powers, the exploration of their generational trauma, and the connections she made within the town and beyond it (I won’t say too much about this part because of spoilers).

I will say that I wish we had learned more about her mother, but I hope that can be explored if the author decides to write a second book. Fingers crossed that happens because I would love to return to this world and learn more about Edie, her family, and the magic that connects them to the town!

Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Hender, and the wonderful people working at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 🏡🐓

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept for the graphic novel was amazing, as was the execution.

The story follows Edie, a recent high school graduate, who is called to come to the town her mother grew up in by a posthumous letter written by her estranged grandmother. She learns magic is real and she is descended from a line of magical people who have protected the town for centuries from goblin folk.

Through the enchanting art style, we get a real feel of the magic of this world and the people in it. The magic itself is based in Eastern European folklore, though my magic history loving self wanted more of it. There are references to Baba Yaga (specifically the house which is shown on the front cover) that I wish was explored more.

Our main characters are well thought out and have a depth to them I really enjoyed. It is a story of learning about and accepting yourself while acknowledging your past and any wrongdoings you have done. There are a lot of very important lessons I think everyone, but especially younger readers, can learn from this. But definitely be aware there are sensitive topics such as suicide and grief, so make sure you are in a place where you can read those.

Overall, I enjoyed the book!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Hold and Co. for giving me access to the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was such an interesting read, part Ukrainian lore and mythology, part coming of age story, part recognition of family trauma; honestly each new cell of this graphic novel brought new emotions.
Edie inherits a family home after the death of her grandmother. But with that family home comes the acknowledgement that she doesn’t know her family. There are secrets her family has kept from her, specifically her mother who really doesn’t have a relationship with her. Edie arrives at the home only to meet a magical aunt and her apprentice and find out an entire town is counting on her to learn the family’s protection spell.
But not everything is as it seems. And as is advisable anytime there is something to figure out - Edie does some serious research in the town library, uncovering the truth of her family’s history.
Great artwork, storytelling, and character background, The Witch’s Inheritance is a riveting one-sitting read, great for fans of more mature comics and graphic novels.
TW: abandonment, suicide, arson, anxiety

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch’s Inheritance by Paige Hender is a Baba Yaga inspired graphic novel that blends folklore, mystery, and teen angst in an engaging way. The premise is strong. After a family member dies, the main character unexpectedly inherits the role of town witch. She moves to a new town to train under her aunt, the last witch with some remaining power, though not enough to perform the incantation needed to protect the town from the forest spirits.

I appreciated the mystery and the thoughtful incorporation of Slavic folklore, especially the Baba Yaga tradition, with a creative twist. The forest spirits added atmosphere and tension without overwhelming the emotional story.

I also enjoyed the friendship between the apprentices and the way the story shows her learning to coexist with other teens. Overall, this is a solid, folklore rich graphic novel with strong atmosphere and an interesting magical foundation aka a fun read.
thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an earc for an honest review.

[pineapple tofu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In a strange, isolated town called Hart Creek, a young teen will learn their true heritage and the darkness encroaching on their home. When Edie Birch learns that their grandmother has passed and leaves her home to them, the weirdness of the town confuses them. Until Edie learns that their family line is, in fact, witches all along, and with their magic helps border the town from goblins. Yet, are the goblins the true danger to Hart Creek, or is it far deeper than the secrets the town keeps?
Eerie and definitely strange, this graphic novel draws upon the folklore of goblins and the creatures of the forest. While it takes time for Edie to come to terms with their own magic, feeling powerless at times comes and goes. The artwork, while being an urban fantasy, is creative in the author’s view of goblins. Wondrous and a bit scary, these goblins carry the secrets of the house and the town itself. While enjoyable, Edie’s story of found family and magic is entertaining; the goblins, for me, are really cool.

[Alexis Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Witch's Inheritance" by Paige Hender follows Edie, who inherits a mysterious house in the woods from her late grandmother. After digging up the past she realizes her families bloodline is very special to the town and have abilities. I mean, someone has to protect it's people from the Goblins, right?

I love that this book dealt with hard, but very real topics of loss, ill parenting, and trauma in a realistic way. I loved the friendship, the sleuthing, and the paranormal themes. I absolutely adored the ending but felt it was a bit rushed and the story itself could have been five stars if it had 100 more pages or even a second book.

The ART is fantastic! I really loved how it was such a different style then I am used to seeing in graphic novels. The color choice, elements, and line details were spectacular!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's for giving me the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review!

[Danielle Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian for the ARC! 4/5 stars for this dark fantasy graphic novel about a witch girl who inherits a house that has it’s own personality and powers. Some good like making dinner and some not so. Edie, our witch girl MC, is trying to figure it all out: her estranged mother and her past and ancestry, powers she just learned of, and being the talk of the town as the new Vovk family witch.

The cadence of the story felt very stop and go and not in a great way. Maybe this will be edited somewhat before release. This was one of those books where part way through I realized the main character was not likable. And the “graduation incident” was anticlimactic at best.

The art is the best part of this graphic novel which absolutely makes or breaks graphic novels. The colors, the emotions, the goblins and how interesting they are. Amazing. Overall great read!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC of this amazing book.

Trigger warning: this book explores generational mental illnesses and has a constant undercurrent of anxiety in the main character of Edie and how she learns to cope with it.

Wonderful graphic novel that’s perfect as a coming of age and discovering oneself novel as Edie finds herself inheriting a house from a grandmother she’d never met. The cover of the book alone tells you how special the house (& everything to do with it) so I won’t spoil any more.

If you’re struggling with any neurodivergence or anxiety or depression, this book may be a tough read but it’s well worth it to make it through to the end. You’ll be the better for it.

And yes, I’ve marked this as YA but I’d say this book is best understood by teens and older readers than that.

[Emily Casilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this. It was cozy, had a great art style, and the lore surrounding the chicken foot house turned out bigger than I thought. Edie Birch, the main girl, isn’t drawn as pretty as some of the other characters. I don’t know if this was done intentionally. Her nose kind of came off jokey with how doodle like it looks. The pace of the book is great and it builds and drags you along with you engaged the whole time. The ending is abrupt and suddenly she has feelings for the aunt’s apprentice. That did come out of no where. I enjoyed this witchy tail and would absolutely recommend this to both a young crowd and adult. Oh, and the goblin designs were really neat and their part in the story. Five stars. Flawless victory with everything and more than I was expecting from this.

[Sophy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edie inherits her grandmother’s old house—a woman she never even knew—and decides to use it as a way to escape from everything. But she gets far more than she expected: a mysterious family reputation and a past she knew nothing about.

Edie struggles with social anxiety and hates being the center of attention, which makes her new situation even more uncomfortable—especially after discovering that she’s apparently a witch destined to save the town. Determined to uncover the truth about her family’s past, she begins to question everything around her.

The story alternates between Edie’s present and her family’s past, weaving a haunting and emotional tale. The art has a dark, moody tone that perfectly matches the mystery and eerie atmosphere of the story.

[Madelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co + NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start off by saying that I absolutely love the illustrations. It is all so detailed. I loved getting to see the story unfold through all of the graphics.

With the storyline aspect, I wanted to like this more! The story could’ve been a bit more fleshed out. The last section went so quick and I felt like I really couldn’t connect with the characters. I found out information and then boom - it was over and I had a lot of questions. If there’s going to be another graphic novel to follow the story, then I think I would feel more inclined to give the rating some leeway.

CW: domestic abuse, suicide

[Vixen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this graphic novel overall but mostly for the artwork. I love the art of the 'goblins' the most, they were so creepy cute!!! The story wasn't bad but did have some rather confusing moments and the writing opened a lot but didn't close it, such as what exactly happened at school? Why doesn't mom communicate with at least her child? and the serious discussion between Edie and Leander seemed misplaced or something (sharing my full thoughts would be spoiler unfortunately) but I don't know if these topics were explored to keep the story short or not but I think it would of done the story more justice to have all that in there. I very much enjoyed Edie finding out more history of her family and everything, exploration of the past is always a great story arc in my opinion!