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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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! :)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Shelf- Young Adult Dark Fantasy Graphic Novel
This is a twisted little story with a family secret Edie Birch was not ready for. The house she inherits holds more than memories—it hides demons and truths that change everything. Her friend Leander adds balance and heart, making the journey feel less lonely. The illustrations pull you in, adding to the eerie atmosphere and keeping the pages turning. Dark, suspenseful, and engaging, it’s the kind of read that keeps you hooked start to finish.
Tropes: Family Secret Inheritance Haunted Home Mysteries Estranged Family Witch Lineage Magical Legacy Small-Town Gothic Vibe
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was pretty good, I enjoyed the premise, I felt the execution did lack a little something though. I wished it had a little more depth overall. I didn't really feel all that I could have felt and didn't fell for the characters the way I often do. I still enjoyed this story overall though. The magic system was interesting and the whole town was too. I also liked the illustrations and overall, it was an original and fast read. I was hoping for a little more but I still enjoyed this and am interested in reading more from this author.
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
This is a great standalone graphic novel about witchcraft, family lineage, and family secrets.
FMC Edelweiss's family were Ukranian immigrants that moved to this town in the 1800's and have since been keeping it safe from "goblins"...or have they? After inheriting her late grandmother's home in the woods Edie learns about the history of her family, their home, and the "good folk" that live in the surrounding forest. With beautiful illustration and full color, this is a must-read for any witchy folklore enthusiasts.
Shout out to Henry Holt and NetGalley for this ARC! love a dark fantasy graphic novel. Witch's Inheritance is exactly what I was looking for. It's an interesting look into generational trauma and how it can shape a person, even if they're not aware of it. Paige Hender has such a unique art style that I felt fit the tone of the story perfectly. Each character is so distinctly illustrated. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and will absolutely be recommending it when it comes out.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read the advanced cooy of the book! . . . 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!!
An interesting take on intergenerational trauma and the Baba Yaga folklore. Edie Birch is trying to escape her life but can't seem to escape her family's past. As she learns more about her family history Edie comes to the eternal question of whether she should change everything she's known to keep the status quo or shake up generations of tradition.
Representation: white Ukrainian protagonist, white Ukrainian secondary character, Black secondary character, Black tertiary characters, tertiary characters of colour.
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!