Witch's Inheritance

by Paige Hender

Genres: Young Adult

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication 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

[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.”

[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!)

[Chelsea]

Review to come June 23rd 2026

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an absolutely beautiful graphic novel with an equally beautiful story. The cover with the Baba Yaga imagery really drew me in and the illustrations were so detailed and really helped convey the emotions our main character was feeling when words weren't enough. I wish we had been able to get to know Leander a little better as I felt a little more disconnected from him but overall this was a great dark fantasy that I really enjoyed.

Warning: suicide, depression, and other darker themes are present in this storyline so I'd proceed with caution if you think you could be impacted negatively by this!

Thank you Paige & NetGalley for the chance to read & review this! :)

[Jennifer Pusey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc! When I saw the illustration of the Baba Yaga house on the cover I knew I had to put in a request.
I loved the modern take on the old story and the mystery surrounding the house and Edie. I do wish I could have connected a bit more with the characters. I liked how things turned out but wasn't totally sure how we got there. Loved the illustrations and look forward to more by Paige Hender!
content: pretty clean with some references to violence, gore and suicide

[Haruka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read the advanced cooy of the book!
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I really enjoyed this book so much!! I really love the storyline tho i wish there a bit more explainations of the goblins and the house. But the storyline is very interesting to read. The art and colors used is so beautiful.
I really enjoyed reading this book so much!!

[Sydney Aerin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, dark fantasy story. I would’ve enjoyed more character development and background, but it was a fun and interesting read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a free eARC in exchange for my review.

[Gabriele | QueerBookdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Representation: white Ukrainian protagonist, white Ukrainian secondary character, Black secondary character, Black tertiary characters, tertiary characters of colour.

Content Warning: generational trauma, violence, death, suicide, blood.

[Meg Gallock]

I want to thank NetGalley for an arc of this graphic novel! I enjoyed this one and the art style was unique. I do feel the climax of the story got wrapped up to quickly when there had been so much leading up to it but overall enjoyed this graphic novel.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good one for Baba Yaga fans like myself! The art is GREAT and while the story didn't entirely click for me, this is still one to be excited about for 2026!

[Deborah G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this!! Very enjoyable story, detailed and interesting artwork, great read!

[Erin Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good read! Not only was the art style fun and compelling, the story ended up being a very deep take on generational trauma and it never being too late to try and right wrongs.