What do you think?
Rate this book
Broken Coven #1
Witch Season
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26That is the price of magic - not just the blood, but the pain to bring it out.
Katherine Barnes is an enforcer, charged with upholding the rules of the notorious Los Angeles-based Aestas coven. It's her job to maintain order and bring unsettled witches - people who aren't aware they have magic until it explodes out of them in a catastrophic burst - into the coven's fold. As a former unsettled witch, Katherine owes her life to Sylvia Page, coven leader and silver-haired rebel who founded Aestas years ago.
When Silas Khatri, heir to Noctis, the most powerful coven in the world, arrives to take Aestas to task for some of their more unconventional practices, Katherine's dislike for him reaches blistering levels. She hates his money, his good looks, and his coven's dangerous attitude towards unsettled witches. She can absolutely overlook that he sets her off in more ways than one.
But a powerful threat is about to rise. Stronger than any one coven. More insidious than the decades-long power struggle that exists in the hidden witch world. One that will pull Katherine and Silas together despite their differences. And one that will lead to an all-out war.
Katherine Barnes is an enforcer, charged with upholding the rules of the notorious Los Angeles-based Aestas coven. It's her job to maintain order and bring unsettled witches - people who aren't aware they have magic until it explodes out of them in a catastrophic burst - into the coven's fold. As a former unsettled witch, Katherine owes her life to Sylvia Page, coven leader and silver-haired rebel who founded Aestas years ago.
When Silas Khatri, heir to Noctis, the most powerful coven in the world, arrives to take Aestas to task for some of their more unconventional practices, Katherine's dislike for him reaches blistering levels. She hates his money, his good looks, and his coven's dangerous attitude towards unsettled witches. She can absolutely overlook that he sets her off in more ways than one.
But a powerful threat is about to rise. Stronger than any one coven. More insidious than the decades-long power struggle that exists in the hidden witch world. One that will pull Katherine and Silas together despite their differences. And one that will lead to an all-out war.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 30, 2026
9716 people want to read
About the author
Julia Bianco
1 book44 followersJulia Bianco lives in Los Angeles with her fiancé and their cats, S’more and Rigatoni. She works in the entertainment industry and enjoys baking, reality television, and playing with her cats’ ears. Witch Season is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
December 23, 2025
I didn't expect Witch Season to hit me the way it did. From the first few pages, I was completely pulled in. This isn't the kind of fantasy where magic sparkles and comes easy. Here, it hurts. It costs something. And that rawness hooked me immediately.
Katherine Barnes is the kind of protagonist I didn't know I needed. She's an enforcer tasked with keeping rogue magic in check and guiding new witches before they self-destruct. She's good at her job, but she carries weight from her past, moments where she almost crossed lines she now enforces. Julia Bianco writes her as someone tough but not untouchable, someone who's learned to survive without losing herself completely. I found myself rooting for her even when she made choices I wasn't sure about.
Then Silas Khatri shows up and everything gets more complicated. He's the heir to the most powerful coven around, and he represents pretty much everything Katherine has spent her life pushing against: old money magic, strict traditions, the kind of control that leaves no room for people like her. Their scenes together have this constant push and pull that goes way beyond attraction. They challenge each other. They frustrate each other. And watching them try to figure out where they stand, with each other and with their own beliefs, kept me turning pages late into the night.
What really surprised me was how fully realized the world feels. The covens aren't just window dressing. They're political, messy, and constantly on the edge of something dangerous. When the bigger threat emerges, it doesn't feel tacked on. It feels like the natural consequence of everything these characters and their society have been building toward. The ending left me genuinely shaken in the best way, desperate to know what happens next.
This is a confident debut. It's intense, it's romantic without being soft, and it takes real swings. Julia Bianco clearly knows what kind of story she wants to tell, and she tells it without holding back. I'll absolutely be following wherever this series goes.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy. These are my honest thoughts, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read this early.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
Katherine Barnes is the kind of protagonist I didn't know I needed. She's an enforcer tasked with keeping rogue magic in check and guiding new witches before they self-destruct. She's good at her job, but she carries weight from her past, moments where she almost crossed lines she now enforces. Julia Bianco writes her as someone tough but not untouchable, someone who's learned to survive without losing herself completely. I found myself rooting for her even when she made choices I wasn't sure about.
Then Silas Khatri shows up and everything gets more complicated. He's the heir to the most powerful coven around, and he represents pretty much everything Katherine has spent her life pushing against: old money magic, strict traditions, the kind of control that leaves no room for people like her. Their scenes together have this constant push and pull that goes way beyond attraction. They challenge each other. They frustrate each other. And watching them try to figure out where they stand, with each other and with their own beliefs, kept me turning pages late into the night.
What really surprised me was how fully realized the world feels. The covens aren't just window dressing. They're political, messy, and constantly on the edge of something dangerous. When the bigger threat emerges, it doesn't feel tacked on. It feels like the natural consequence of everything these characters and their society have been building toward. The ending left me genuinely shaken in the best way, desperate to know what happens next.
This is a confident debut. It's intense, it's romantic without being soft, and it takes real swings. Julia Bianco clearly knows what kind of story she wants to tell, and she tells it without holding back. I'll absolutely be following wherever this series goes.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy. These are my honest thoughts, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read this early.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
December 6, 2025
4.25 ★— Urban fantasy, oh how I’ve missed you during the last few years of the big fantasy and romantasy boom.
Witch Season by Julia Bianco feels like a return to so many things I love about the genre! There is solid world-building, clear rules for how magic works, and a strong sense of coven politics as the different groups we are introduced to try to maintain their power while vying for their continued existence. The story also explores themes I always enjoy seeing: found family, loyalty, and the ways unhealed trauma can hold a person back.
Katherine is basically the heart of the story, but the book also shifts between additional POVs, letting us learn more about several characters along the way. I was quickly hooked as I watched them navigate coven life in different ways, and I thought the author cleverly introduced this world through these varied perspectives.
The weakest part of the book for me was the romantic storyline. Silas Kathri, the male lead, is of South Asian descent, and I LOVED seeing an unambiguously POC love interest! He is thankfully not part of the typical enemies to lovers setup suggested by the book’s blurb. Instead, we learn early on that he carries no real animosity toward Katherine and that their connection leans toward the classic “she thinks he’s an arrogant prick while he is instantly smitten” dynamic, which I normally enjoy.
The pacing of their relationship, however, didn’t fully work for me. The story sets up a strong foundation for their chemistry, but Silas seems enamored far too quickly for a man of his experience, and Katherine — someone we are repeatedly told is very guarded because of her past — becomes far too earnest with him, given what we’ve seen of her personality and her initial perception of him. This made the shift into them getting closer feel sudden and unconvincing for me, and I would have loved a slightly slower progression, which would have given more of an authentic feel to their connection.
The book did ultimately win me back with its climax and final chapters, which shake everything up and restore a much more interesting dynamic between Katherine and Silas. Without giving anything of the ending away, the story really could go a lot of ways now, and I’m genuinely happy to call this a solid start to a promising urban fantasy series.
_______________
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Witch Season by Julia Bianco feels like a return to so many things I love about the genre! There is solid world-building, clear rules for how magic works, and a strong sense of coven politics as the different groups we are introduced to try to maintain their power while vying for their continued existence. The story also explores themes I always enjoy seeing: found family, loyalty, and the ways unhealed trauma can hold a person back.
Katherine is basically the heart of the story, but the book also shifts between additional POVs, letting us learn more about several characters along the way. I was quickly hooked as I watched them navigate coven life in different ways, and I thought the author cleverly introduced this world through these varied perspectives.
The weakest part of the book for me was the romantic storyline. Silas Kathri, the male lead, is of South Asian descent, and I LOVED seeing an unambiguously POC love interest! He is thankfully not part of the typical enemies to lovers setup suggested by the book’s blurb. Instead, we learn early on that he carries no real animosity toward Katherine and that their connection leans toward the classic “she thinks he’s an arrogant prick while he is instantly smitten” dynamic, which I normally enjoy.
The pacing of their relationship, however, didn’t fully work for me. The story sets up a strong foundation for their chemistry, but Silas seems enamored far too quickly for a man of his experience, and Katherine — someone we are repeatedly told is very guarded because of her past — becomes far too earnest with him, given what we’ve seen of her personality and her initial perception of him. This made the shift into them getting closer feel sudden and unconvincing for me, and I would have loved a slightly slower progression, which would have given more of an authentic feel to their connection.
The book did ultimately win me back with its climax and final chapters, which shake everything up and restore a much more interesting dynamic between Katherine and Silas. Without giving anything of the ending away, the story really could go a lot of ways now, and I’m genuinely happy to call this a solid start to a promising urban fantasy series.
_______________
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an incredibly multifaceted and nuanced story with layers and layers of emotion, background, betrayals and revelations to uncover! What starts out as a pretty linear plot-line, slowly melds into a complicated treasure trove of mystery, loyalties and treachery. Man! One can’t even explain the story well without giving secrets away!
Basically, Katherine is a witch who didn’t know she had magic until her teenage years when they violently erupted out of her. This is a very common occurrence and this type of magic is labeled, “Unsettled” to those witches who are born and already know about magic. That condition, however, is also labeled less-than and unpredictable, so “normal” witches shun, ignore or outright kill the unsettled. All except one coven, Aestas, in L.A. headed by a 50ish woman named Sylvia. She is the one who found Katherine as a teenager, gave her comfort, a home and taught her how to manage her magic. She also started a school for those unsettled witches to teach them the same. Katherine is completely devoted to both Sylvia and the cause.
The troubles begin when Silas, the heir of the most powerful coven in the nation and controls all other covens, comes to dismantle Aestas and bring the witches back in line with conventional strictures. From here the story becomes one big ride of twisting turns, shocking surprises and heart-breaking betrayal. Although the villain is outed pretty soon in the story, how it will all fall out is never known. The relationship between Silas and Katherine is antagonistic yet the chemistry is off the charts, but it also takes so many twists that it has a reader’s head spinning!
When the final page turns, the devastation is felt bone-deep (and I personally hated it with a thousand burning flames) yet it leaves the reader yearning to see how Katherine can rise. SUCH an impressive debut for an author. Let’s just hope she writes fast!
Basically, Katherine is a witch who didn’t know she had magic until her teenage years when they violently erupted out of her. This is a very common occurrence and this type of magic is labeled, “Unsettled” to those witches who are born and already know about magic. That condition, however, is also labeled less-than and unpredictable, so “normal” witches shun, ignore or outright kill the unsettled. All except one coven, Aestas, in L.A. headed by a 50ish woman named Sylvia. She is the one who found Katherine as a teenager, gave her comfort, a home and taught her how to manage her magic. She also started a school for those unsettled witches to teach them the same. Katherine is completely devoted to both Sylvia and the cause.
The troubles begin when Silas, the heir of the most powerful coven in the nation and controls all other covens, comes to dismantle Aestas and bring the witches back in line with conventional strictures. From here the story becomes one big ride of twisting turns, shocking surprises and heart-breaking betrayal. Although the villain is outed pretty soon in the story, how it will all fall out is never known. The relationship between Silas and Katherine is antagonistic yet the chemistry is off the charts, but it also takes so many twists that it has a reader’s head spinning!
When the final page turns, the devastation is felt bone-deep (and I personally hated it with a thousand burning flames) yet it leaves the reader yearning to see how Katherine can rise. SUCH an impressive debut for an author. Let’s just hope she writes fast!
Want to read
January 7, 2026Sci-fi and fantasy!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin Press and the author Julia Bianco for the early eARC!
Publication date: June 30, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin Press and the author Julia Bianco for the early eARC!
Publication date: June 30, 2026
February 9, 2026
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Witch Season started off strong for me. I was genuinely interested in the world, the magic system, and the way witches and unsettled magic were handled. The setup felt fresh, and I liked the darker, more dangerous take on magic and covens.
Unfortunately, the characters didn’t work for me. Both main characters came across as very naive, and their personalities and decisions slowly took me out of the story. I also didn’t feel any real connection between them. The romance never grabbed my attention, and I honestly didn’t care whether they ended up together or not, which is never a great sign for a romantic contemporary fantasy.
While I liked the overall plot and the world the author created, the execution didn’t quite match the potential. The ideas were there, but the character work and interactions weren’t strong enough to keep me fully invested. There is some character development toward the end, which I appreciated, but I’m not sure it was enough to make me excited to continue the series.
Overall, this was an okay read with an interesting concept and solid world-building, but the characters and romance didn’t land for me, which is why it ends up at three stars.
Witch Season started off strong for me. I was genuinely interested in the world, the magic system, and the way witches and unsettled magic were handled. The setup felt fresh, and I liked the darker, more dangerous take on magic and covens.
Unfortunately, the characters didn’t work for me. Both main characters came across as very naive, and their personalities and decisions slowly took me out of the story. I also didn’t feel any real connection between them. The romance never grabbed my attention, and I honestly didn’t care whether they ended up together or not, which is never a great sign for a romantic contemporary fantasy.
While I liked the overall plot and the world the author created, the execution didn’t quite match the potential. The ideas were there, but the character work and interactions weren’t strong enough to keep me fully invested. There is some character development toward the end, which I appreciated, but I’m not sure it was enough to make me excited to continue the series.
Overall, this was an okay read with an interesting concept and solid world-building, but the characters and romance didn’t land for me, which is why it ends up at three stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witch Season is gonna be The urban fantasy of 2026 from a debut author who already writes like a seasoned pro.
The story has a very well written and restrained magic system where witches must give themselves pain (usually cuts) in order to use spells. One exception are those who are 'unsettled'. This is usually wild magic from youth whose parents are not witches. Most covens, and through them, most witches; are under the purview of one powerful family which had invented the use of runes and spellbooks.
(My one teeny tiny complaint is that when witches share magic, they both cut their hands and join their hands together and ooooomggggffskskd. That's so unsanitary, is there not an HIV/AIDS pandemic in the witch community??)
The FMC is the police of her coven and the MMC is the son of the powerful family come to check on her coven. The book is marketed as enemies to lovers but it's kind of one-sided. The side characters are adorable and the main antagonist is well written especially in their mad descent into unforgivable territory.
The romance was crazy spicy and fast paced (if a little bit out of nowhere for me). 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
The ending was fast paced and left a lot to be desired and that's when I realized this was the first book in a series lol. But I liked that it ended with a sense of calm with a few loose ends ready for the next book.
Bianco knocked her debut book out of the park. I look forward to her future works in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kobo 🫶 for the ARC of this book!
The story has a very well written and restrained magic system where witches must give themselves pain (usually cuts) in order to use spells. One exception are those who are 'unsettled'. This is usually wild magic from youth whose parents are not witches. Most covens, and through them, most witches; are under the purview of one powerful family which had invented the use of runes and spellbooks.
(My one teeny tiny complaint is that when witches share magic, they both cut their hands and join their hands together and ooooomggggffskskd. That's so unsanitary, is there not an HIV/AIDS pandemic in the witch community??)
The FMC is the police of her coven and the MMC is the son of the powerful family come to check on her coven. The book is marketed as enemies to lovers but it's kind of one-sided. The side characters are adorable and the main antagonist is well written especially in their mad descent into unforgivable territory.
The romance was crazy spicy and fast paced (if a little bit out of nowhere for me). 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
The ending was fast paced and left a lot to be desired and that's when I realized this was the first book in a series lol. But I liked that it ended with a sense of calm with a few loose ends ready for the next book.
Bianco knocked her debut book out of the park. I look forward to her future works in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kobo 🫶 for the ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this from Goodreads, and so glad I did!
I really enjoyed this -the magic dynamics, the politics, and most of the characters.
It is marked as book 1 and the ending sets up for another book well, I'm excited to see what happens next!
I really enjoyed this -the magic dynamics, the politics, and most of the characters.
It is marked as book 1 and the ending sets up for another book well, I'm excited to see what happens next!
November 8, 2025
Book Review
Witch Season by Julia Bianco
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨3.5
Debut
Genre: urban fantasy
Publisher: St Martins press
Pub date: June 2026
What Its Got
✅ Dysfunctional families
✅ Found family
✅ Witch covens
✅ Drug abuse
✅ Murder
✅ Political maneuvering
✅ Runes and potions
✅ Magic and mayhem
✅ enemies to lovers
Thoughts
Perfect for spooky season this
Book offers readers a bit of everything- murder, mystery, revenge, betrayal and love .
Thanks to @netgalley @kobo and the publisher for my digital review copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
Witch Season by Julia Bianco
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨3.5
Debut
Genre: urban fantasy
Publisher: St Martins press
Pub date: June 2026
What Its Got
✅ Dysfunctional families
✅ Found family
✅ Witch covens
✅ Drug abuse
✅ Murder
✅ Political maneuvering
✅ Runes and potions
✅ Magic and mayhem
✅ enemies to lovers
Thoughts
Perfect for spooky season this
Book offers readers a bit of everything- murder, mystery, revenge, betrayal and love .
Thanks to @netgalley @kobo and the publisher for my digital review copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m going to be so honest with you, this book bored me so much. The writing style is simply not for me, it tried to be extremely conversational but it ended up being mostly exposition and sadly, very unrealistic banter between a bunch of characters who I didn’t care enough about to keep track of. The concept was sound but it fell very flat to me and was very difficult for me to get through. It wasn’t like, egregiously bad it was just boring.
December 2, 2025
****Review courtesy of an ARC from NetGalley****
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Romance
Spice: 3/5
Julia Bianco should be very proud of what she has created in this story. This is practically ready to hit the shelves as it is; it is better than many books that have already been published and are taking up space on said shelves.
This story takes place in present day with witches walking among us with humans being none the wiser. Their covens are their safe havens, their law enforcement, their friends, and their educators. Witches (of all genders) are either born with their magic or it comes into power in their teens. The ones who come into their power later in life are looked down upon by most witches, but the LA Coven, better known as Aestas, takes in those teenagers and teaches them to harness their power. This coven is home to the FMC, a young woman who enforces the law within her boundaries and will practically do anything for her coven leader. As with all governing bodies, the highest one in charge wants to be in complete control and that is no different than the ruling head of North America. This family has slowly taken over every coven in the country and desperately wants Los Angeles to be theirs. They send their son to inspect the wards, speak with the members, literally do anything to find fault with the coven's leader so that she can be fired. He is our MMC and while he may be physically attracted to the FMC, there is an immediate distrust between the two. The plot kicks off as these two attempt to undermine each other, protect their own, figure out their personal desires, and realize that someone must be lying.
The character development was there for all three primary characters. I was not expecting to read the point of view of the coven leader, but her chapters offered a lot of insight into her path and the predictions for the end of the book. The FMC and MMC were similar in their tragedies but different enough that they were their own identities. In the broad scheme of things, their capability of pushing their friends away and not asking for help is relatable for myself and numerous readers out there. I thoroughly enjoyed that we were given a handful of chapters of the FMC's perspective before the MMC was ever introduced. Too many books nowadays jump right into the romance without allowing the characters to be independent of each other.
I don't want to give anything away, but I respect the ending. I don't know if I like it yet, but I vastly admire the choices made.
I only have a few suggestions because again, this book is practically there. I wish there had been a handful of days and more interactions between the FMC and MMC's first meeting and their dinner together. If this is going to be marketed as an enemies to lovers trope, I did not feel the deep seated hatred or distrust from the FMC. She is supposed to always be on her guard around him, never displaying any emotion. She is supposed to get him out of this city as soon as possible. But as it is currently written, she actively joins him for dinner and shares a closely guarded secret after just three days of knowing him. She comments that she feels she can trust him. I didn't believe it and would have loved to see more interactions build up the wall of dislike.
As for the sexy scenes. Outside characters mentioned numerous times that he was a playboy and was a very good lay, and he himself mentioned that he had plenty of one night stands while he was traveling across the country. He did make a few internal comments about her body and wanting to be with her. But when their first time happened, I had forgotten that he was supposed to be a player; he had turned into this sad puppy in my mind. His dialogue felt out of place during their time together. The suggestion would be to either add more internal dialogue of him either reflecting on past escapades (without thinking about the rejections afterwards) or maybe give him a smirk or a hint of ego. The fact of him oozing charisma or sex appeal did not read on the page for me. I also understand that we were given insight into his mind which held his vulnerabilities and desires to be away from his family. If his character is not changed, then maybe the dialogue in the alley should reflect his softer nature.
The side characters had some depth to them. Some were there to just move the plot along while others offered the reader's voice to the main characters. Now that I say that, I also wish that we were given at least one early conversation between the FMC and Niles. That would offer a stronger foundation for what she has accomplished in life. I appreciated that most characters were POC, including the MMC. I wish the FMC was also a woman of color.
While this book is the first in a series, it strongly stands on its own.
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Romance
Spice: 3/5
Julia Bianco should be very proud of what she has created in this story. This is practically ready to hit the shelves as it is; it is better than many books that have already been published and are taking up space on said shelves.
This story takes place in present day with witches walking among us with humans being none the wiser. Their covens are their safe havens, their law enforcement, their friends, and their educators. Witches (of all genders) are either born with their magic or it comes into power in their teens. The ones who come into their power later in life are looked down upon by most witches, but the LA Coven, better known as Aestas, takes in those teenagers and teaches them to harness their power. This coven is home to the FMC, a young woman who enforces the law within her boundaries and will practically do anything for her coven leader. As with all governing bodies, the highest one in charge wants to be in complete control and that is no different than the ruling head of North America. This family has slowly taken over every coven in the country and desperately wants Los Angeles to be theirs. They send their son to inspect the wards, speak with the members, literally do anything to find fault with the coven's leader so that she can be fired. He is our MMC and while he may be physically attracted to the FMC, there is an immediate distrust between the two. The plot kicks off as these two attempt to undermine each other, protect their own, figure out their personal desires, and realize that someone must be lying.
The character development was there for all three primary characters. I was not expecting to read the point of view of the coven leader, but her chapters offered a lot of insight into her path and the predictions for the end of the book. The FMC and MMC were similar in their tragedies but different enough that they were their own identities. In the broad scheme of things, their capability of pushing their friends away and not asking for help is relatable for myself and numerous readers out there. I thoroughly enjoyed that we were given a handful of chapters of the FMC's perspective before the MMC was ever introduced. Too many books nowadays jump right into the romance without allowing the characters to be independent of each other.
I don't want to give anything away, but I respect the ending. I don't know if I like it yet, but I vastly admire the choices made.
I only have a few suggestions because again, this book is practically there. I wish there had been a handful of days and more interactions between the FMC and MMC's first meeting and their dinner together. If this is going to be marketed as an enemies to lovers trope, I did not feel the deep seated hatred or distrust from the FMC. She is supposed to always be on her guard around him, never displaying any emotion. She is supposed to get him out of this city as soon as possible. But as it is currently written, she actively joins him for dinner and shares a closely guarded secret after just three days of knowing him. She comments that she feels she can trust him. I didn't believe it and would have loved to see more interactions build up the wall of dislike.
As for the sexy scenes. Outside characters mentioned numerous times that he was a playboy and was a very good lay, and he himself mentioned that he had plenty of one night stands while he was traveling across the country. He did make a few internal comments about her body and wanting to be with her. But when their first time happened, I had forgotten that he was supposed to be a player; he had turned into this sad puppy in my mind. His dialogue felt out of place during their time together. The suggestion would be to either add more internal dialogue of him either reflecting on past escapades (without thinking about the rejections afterwards) or maybe give him a smirk or a hint of ego. The fact of him oozing charisma or sex appeal did not read on the page for me. I also understand that we were given insight into his mind which held his vulnerabilities and desires to be away from his family. If his character is not changed, then maybe the dialogue in the alley should reflect his softer nature.
The side characters had some depth to them. Some were there to just move the plot along while others offered the reader's voice to the main characters. Now that I say that, I also wish that we were given at least one early conversation between the FMC and Niles. That would offer a stronger foundation for what she has accomplished in life. I appreciated that most characters were POC, including the MMC. I wish the FMC was also a woman of color.
While this book is the first in a series, it strongly stands on its own.
January 31, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Witch Season. This is a terrific fantasy with a great urban backdrop, and I’m already impatiently waiting for book 2. I’m floored that this is Julia Bianco’s debut novel because, to me, this felt like a seasoned author, and she’s gained me as a fan for life.
Katherine was a unique main character in the way that she never really thought of herself. All of her actions were to protect and help other people, as a way to atone for what happened during her snap. That being said, she was still vulnerable and broken and she really just needed someone to be on her team.
I loved the magic system, although I would hate having to be this kind of witch. This isn’t easy magic like most - it demands a bloody price every single time.
Silas was an unexpected delight. He came off badly upon introduction, but I loved seeing how open he was to changing his ways of thinking when presented with new information, even after years of being told otherwise by Noctis and his parents. He clearly cared a lot for Katherine, and that made their last interaction SO painful. I think their relationship evolved quickly once they started working together, but it was in the later part of the book so I don’t mind that per se - especially because this is such a minuscule part of the story overall.
I never would have anticipated who the villain was going to be when I first started this story, which is rare as they typically are easy to determine from their first meeting. The absolute ‘what the fuck?’ moment I had during the reveal should have been caught on camera.
I’ve already raved about this to my friends, and I can’t wait for the general public to be able to read this. I’m so stoked and I hope this gets all of the hype it deserves. This might be the longest review I’ve ever written but quite frankly it is well deserved.
Also, shoutout to Cheez-It.
Katherine was a unique main character in the way that she never really thought of herself. All of her actions were to protect and help other people, as a way to atone for what happened during her snap. That being said, she was still vulnerable and broken and she really just needed someone to be on her team.
I loved the magic system, although I would hate having to be this kind of witch. This isn’t easy magic like most - it demands a bloody price every single time.
Silas was an unexpected delight. He came off badly upon introduction, but I loved seeing how open he was to changing his ways of thinking when presented with new information, even after years of being told otherwise by Noctis and his parents. He clearly cared a lot for Katherine, and that made their last interaction SO painful. I think their relationship evolved quickly once they started working together, but it was in the later part of the book so I don’t mind that per se - especially because this is such a minuscule part of the story overall.
I never would have anticipated who the villain was going to be when I first started this story, which is rare as they typically are easy to determine from their first meeting. The absolute ‘what the fuck?’ moment I had during the reveal should have been caught on camera.
I’ve already raved about this to my friends, and I can’t wait for the general public to be able to read this. I’m so stoked and I hope this gets all of the hype it deserves. This might be the longest review I’ve ever written but quite frankly it is well deserved.
Also, shoutout to Cheez-It.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to St. Martin's press for the opportunity to review this ARC!
Witch Season was an entertaining and original urban fantasy. It follows Katherine Barnes, a witch who discovered her powers in a sudden and traumatizing way at a young age. In this magical system, powers are either inherited from magical parents or appear suddenly in a nonmagical lineage. When the latter occurs, the witch is "unsettled" or has wild, difficult to control magic for a period of time before they settle into them.
Katherine is settled now but as second in her coven, her job is to not only enforce coven rules when necessary but to find young, unsettled witches and help them adjust to their newfound powers. Her coven leader and close friend has taken this unconventional approach, welcoming unsettled into her coven when the ruling coven deems them dangerous and shuns them.
When the (sexy and mysterious but definitely an enemy) heir to the most powerful coven shows up to enforce their rules over Katherine's coven and its leader, tensions flare. But a catastrophic event occurs and Katherine suddenly finds herself clinging to her hatred of the ruling coven and its spoiled (attractive) heir as they're forced to work together to save both of their covens from this new threat.
I really enjoyed the pace of the story. It was action packed and flowed easily between shifts in the storyline. For those who like tropes, there are many to choose from: tall/dark/mysterious/rich MMC, enemies to lovers, found family, forced proximity, close relationship betrayal. The tone and language make for an easy, quick read. Overall all was highly entertaining!
The magical system is interesting! I like the idea of different types of magic (inherited vs unsettled) and would have liked to see that transition to settled explored a bit more. The romance aspect was believable for the most part. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say a few of the interactions felt abrupt/unrealistic. The MMC personality arc was also a bit shallow but perhaps this will be given more page time in book 2.
Great first ARC to start the year - Witch Season is set to release in June 30, 2026. Check it out!
Witch Season was an entertaining and original urban fantasy. It follows Katherine Barnes, a witch who discovered her powers in a sudden and traumatizing way at a young age. In this magical system, powers are either inherited from magical parents or appear suddenly in a nonmagical lineage. When the latter occurs, the witch is "unsettled" or has wild, difficult to control magic for a period of time before they settle into them.
Katherine is settled now but as second in her coven, her job is to not only enforce coven rules when necessary but to find young, unsettled witches and help them adjust to their newfound powers. Her coven leader and close friend has taken this unconventional approach, welcoming unsettled into her coven when the ruling coven deems them dangerous and shuns them.
When the (sexy and mysterious but definitely an enemy) heir to the most powerful coven shows up to enforce their rules over Katherine's coven and its leader, tensions flare. But a catastrophic event occurs and Katherine suddenly finds herself clinging to her hatred of the ruling coven and its spoiled (attractive) heir as they're forced to work together to save both of their covens from this new threat.
I really enjoyed the pace of the story. It was action packed and flowed easily between shifts in the storyline. For those who like tropes, there are many to choose from: tall/dark/mysterious/rich MMC, enemies to lovers, found family, forced proximity, close relationship betrayal. The tone and language make for an easy, quick read. Overall all was highly entertaining!
The magical system is interesting! I like the idea of different types of magic (inherited vs unsettled) and would have liked to see that transition to settled explored a bit more. The romance aspect was believable for the most part. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say a few of the interactions felt abrupt/unrealistic. The MMC personality arc was also a bit shallow but perhaps this will be given more page time in book 2.
Great first ARC to start the year - Witch Season is set to release in June 30, 2026. Check it out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Narrative style: I enjoyed the 3rd person multi pov as I like to read different perspectives but it did weaken some of the tension. I'd like to follow Silas & Katherine but not Sylvia. That would maintain some mystery and keep me guessing about the finer details. I like to find out when the characters do rather than knowing something they don't. This is a personal taste and I appreciate other readers will enjoy this type of tension.
The story itself was engaging and I was happy with the way in which the novel ended. The pacing was slow to start, but there was some world building and backstory to establish.
In terms of the characters, I found it difficult to fully buy into Silas' traumas. I hadn't seen enough of his parental relationships to warrant his self loathing and low self esteem. I didn't empathise with this aspect of his experiences but could empathise with his relationship with Katherine. As for Katherine, I do like a morally grey, flawed character. She has secrets, barriers and anger issues, which means she doesnt always get it right. I wasn't keen on the self-sacrificing, martyr complex she had, but that's another personal taste. I found the miscommunication trope between Katherine and Silas frustrating.
The action in the novel was good when it picked up. I found the exposition slow to start but appreciate some time was needed to set up/establish the world.
The magic was brutal and violent. The notion of cutting oneself to access magic was aggressive. But I also think it shows how the use if magic took sacrifice and an element of discomfort.
Overall, an enjoyable story with well written prose.
The story itself was engaging and I was happy with the way in which the novel ended. The pacing was slow to start, but there was some world building and backstory to establish.
In terms of the characters, I found it difficult to fully buy into Silas' traumas. I hadn't seen enough of his parental relationships to warrant his self loathing and low self esteem. I didn't empathise with this aspect of his experiences but could empathise with his relationship with Katherine. As for Katherine, I do like a morally grey, flawed character. She has secrets, barriers and anger issues, which means she doesnt always get it right. I wasn't keen on the self-sacrificing, martyr complex she had, but that's another personal taste. I found the miscommunication trope between Katherine and Silas frustrating.
The action in the novel was good when it picked up. I found the exposition slow to start but appreciate some time was needed to set up/establish the world.
The magic was brutal and violent. The notion of cutting oneself to access magic was aggressive. But I also think it shows how the use if magic took sacrifice and an element of discomfort.
Overall, an enjoyable story with well written prose.
December 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the ARC.
Witch Season was an interesting urban fantasy read, but unfortunately wasn’t for me. Witch Season follows Katherine as she uncovers new truths about her coven leader all while being investigated by another coven.
Things I enjoyed: I really liked the urban setting, the simple magic system, and the last about 15% of the book when everything was coming to a head. It was super intense and kept you at the edge of your seat.
Thing I didn’t love: the story really dragged for me in parts. I didn’t connect with the writing style (which is a personal preference) so I was having to force myself to read. I also didn’t love the romance - I honestly didn’t need it in this book. I would also NOT classify this as enemies to lovers or a romance book. It’s more of an afterthought. The book also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I think it could have all been wrapped up in this story.
While this story wasn’t for me, if you enjoy urban fantasy and are looking for an easy magic system with action this may be a good choice for you.
Witch Season was an interesting urban fantasy read, but unfortunately wasn’t for me. Witch Season follows Katherine as she uncovers new truths about her coven leader all while being investigated by another coven.
Things I enjoyed: I really liked the urban setting, the simple magic system, and the last about 15% of the book when everything was coming to a head. It was super intense and kept you at the edge of your seat.
Thing I didn’t love: the story really dragged for me in parts. I didn’t connect with the writing style (which is a personal preference) so I was having to force myself to read. I also didn’t love the romance - I honestly didn’t need it in this book. I would also NOT classify this as enemies to lovers or a romance book. It’s more of an afterthought. The book also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I think it could have all been wrapped up in this story.
While this story wasn’t for me, if you enjoy urban fantasy and are looking for an easy magic system with action this may be a good choice for you.
January 17, 2026
[3.5⭐️] what an interesting take on witches! This was a fun urban fantasy novel that flew by, as I turned the pages incessantly to see what happened next.
The ending, no spoilers, was not a cliff hanger but cliff hanger-esque which makes sense for a budding series, but still— my heart!!
Honestly my only issue with the book was how stubborn the fmc and mmc were, to the point of frustration. I’m always happy to see a character arc where people learn to trust others (especially friends) but I did find myself muttering about saviour complexes here and there. I digress!
This was an interesting and fun read, and an impressive debut novel, and I’m eager to read the next in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The ending, no spoilers, was not a cliff hanger but cliff hanger-esque which makes sense for a budding series, but still— my heart!!
Honestly my only issue with the book was how stubborn the fmc and mmc were, to the point of frustration. I’m always happy to see a character arc where people learn to trust others (especially friends) but I did find myself muttering about saviour complexes here and there. I digress!
This was an interesting and fun read, and an impressive debut novel, and I’m eager to read the next in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
December 5, 2025
This is a perfect read to get in the mood for the fall and spooky season. To feel the witchy vibes without sitting in the rain all day. I was hooked from the first page and did not put it down until I reached the last one. Absolutely amazing story!
Katherine is such a strong character, sure she is flawed but that makes her so real. Silas was everything, broody and attractive and just so much fun.
The enemies to lovers story in a Los Angeles setting in which there are serious consequences to whatever is happening in this story was so intriguing to read. I cannot wait to see what happens in the sequel!
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the arc.
Katherine is such a strong character, sure she is flawed but that makes her so real. Silas was everything, broody and attractive and just so much fun.
The enemies to lovers story in a Los Angeles setting in which there are serious consequences to whatever is happening in this story was so intriguing to read. I cannot wait to see what happens in the sequel!
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the arc.
January 13, 2026
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Julia Bianco’s Witch Season is an incredible debut novel. I was hooked from the very beginning by the gritty consequences of the magic system she created. Bianco developed a deeply rich world full of flawed, complex characters and I couldn’t help but root for them. There’s political intrigue and covens that aren’t just there for decoration. I can’t wait for the next book to find out more about this world and see what happens next. This was urban fantasy done SO right.
FYI: There are two spicy scenes in this novel so just know that going into it. It’s for some people and not for others. I thought they were really well done and appreciated how it moved the plot and relationship forward.
General Summary - no spoilers
Our main character, Katherine, is an executrix meaning she’s essentially the “cop” for her coven. She’s in charge of investigating magical crimes and ensuring people don’t take advantage of ordinaries (non-magical people). She also helps the coven leader, Sylvia, track down unsettled witches (witches not born to magical families) to help them learn to control their power. If they don’t learn how to control their power, they can snap and injure themselves and others. As Katherine investigates the creation of a magical drug she finds answers she’s not ready for.
Introducing, Silas Khatri, the reluctant heir apparent for Noctis (the largest coven in the world). He’s been ordered to find something to displace Sylvia from her leadership position. Initially, he thinks this will be a difficult fight, but an event occurs that may make his job a lot easier.
Teaming up to investigate, tensions rise between Silas and Katherine. Smoke and friction and they both get burned.
If you loved Crescent City House of Earth and Blood, Ninth House, and maybe even crime investigation shows you should check out this book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Julia Bianco’s Witch Season is an incredible debut novel. I was hooked from the very beginning by the gritty consequences of the magic system she created. Bianco developed a deeply rich world full of flawed, complex characters and I couldn’t help but root for them. There’s political intrigue and covens that aren’t just there for decoration. I can’t wait for the next book to find out more about this world and see what happens next. This was urban fantasy done SO right.
FYI: There are two spicy scenes in this novel so just know that going into it. It’s for some people and not for others. I thought they were really well done and appreciated how it moved the plot and relationship forward.
General Summary - no spoilers
Our main character, Katherine, is an executrix meaning she’s essentially the “cop” for her coven. She’s in charge of investigating magical crimes and ensuring people don’t take advantage of ordinaries (non-magical people). She also helps the coven leader, Sylvia, track down unsettled witches (witches not born to magical families) to help them learn to control their power. If they don’t learn how to control their power, they can snap and injure themselves and others. As Katherine investigates the creation of a magical drug she finds answers she’s not ready for.
Introducing, Silas Khatri, the reluctant heir apparent for Noctis (the largest coven in the world). He’s been ordered to find something to displace Sylvia from her leadership position. Initially, he thinks this will be a difficult fight, but an event occurs that may make his job a lot easier.
Teaming up to investigate, tensions rise between Silas and Katherine. Smoke and friction and they both get burned.
If you loved Crescent City House of Earth and Blood, Ninth House, and maybe even crime investigation shows you should check out this book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fall under the spell of Witch Season...
Magic always demands a price.
And that price is not just the blood ... but the pain that comes with it.
Katherine Barnes is an enforcer. It is her job to make sure that those in Los Angeles follow the rules of the infamous Aestas coven... and to bring in any unsettled witches (people who are unaware they hold magic) into the coven's fold. She is also an enforcer who owes her life to the silver-haired Aestas coven leader and founder, Silvia Page... because she too was once Unsettled.
When her coven is called on by the heir of the most powerful Noctis coven, Silas Khatri, for some of their more unconventional practices... Katherine's dislike for him only grows.
Not only because of his good looks or his seemingly endless supply of money but for his coven's dangerous attitude towards the unsettled... which only causes Katherine to hate him even more.
But a powerful threat is rising, and one that is stronger than any coven alone.
One more dangerous than the long-time power struggle between covens.
One that will force the Noctis coven, and the Aestas coven to join forces despite their differences... and even then, that will not stop the war to come.
I went into this book completely blind, and I have to say, this has now once more slid into one of my favorites that I have read this year. This was something that grabbed me from the very start and refused to let me go until I had devoured the very last page.
Something I especially loved was just how alive the world felt... how you could literally feel the conflict between covens, and the complexity of the politics... the tension that hums between the pages.... Julia has done a fantastic job of making it feel like the reader is also living in this world... experiencing the things that our characters are at the same time as they unfold.
Julia has also done a beyond amazing job on bringing a vibrant magic system to life... adding on to its complexity slowly through dialogue, scenery, and conflicts as the story progresses...this adds on to the veritable tension that is felt throughout the story... and only makes the world feel even more alive... more like you stepped into its streets as another form of yourself.. in a world full of danger that could turn sour at any moment.
While there is a supposed enemies-to-lovers sort of romance, personally I didn't feel like it fit the normal trope? Maybe that was me... but the romance felt slightly off from both character's views...but it doesn't detract enough from this magical, whirling...darkly intense sensation for me to have to point out in detail.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press as well as Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advanced. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I want to also extend some special thanks to Kejana Ayala at St. Martin's Press for the invite to read this beautiful work of magic, and of politics... set in a beautifully fantastical world that I look forward to falling into again and again. If you are looking for a truly magical read... then I highly suggest checking out the beyond talented Julia Bianco's debut novel.
Magic always demands a price.
And that price is not just the blood ... but the pain that comes with it.
Katherine Barnes is an enforcer. It is her job to make sure that those in Los Angeles follow the rules of the infamous Aestas coven... and to bring in any unsettled witches (people who are unaware they hold magic) into the coven's fold. She is also an enforcer who owes her life to the silver-haired Aestas coven leader and founder, Silvia Page... because she too was once Unsettled.
When her coven is called on by the heir of the most powerful Noctis coven, Silas Khatri, for some of their more unconventional practices... Katherine's dislike for him only grows.
Not only because of his good looks or his seemingly endless supply of money but for his coven's dangerous attitude towards the unsettled... which only causes Katherine to hate him even more.
But a powerful threat is rising, and one that is stronger than any coven alone.
One more dangerous than the long-time power struggle between covens.
One that will force the Noctis coven, and the Aestas coven to join forces despite their differences... and even then, that will not stop the war to come.
I went into this book completely blind, and I have to say, this has now once more slid into one of my favorites that I have read this year. This was something that grabbed me from the very start and refused to let me go until I had devoured the very last page.
Something I especially loved was just how alive the world felt... how you could literally feel the conflict between covens, and the complexity of the politics... the tension that hums between the pages.... Julia has done a fantastic job of making it feel like the reader is also living in this world... experiencing the things that our characters are at the same time as they unfold.
Julia has also done a beyond amazing job on bringing a vibrant magic system to life... adding on to its complexity slowly through dialogue, scenery, and conflicts as the story progresses...this adds on to the veritable tension that is felt throughout the story... and only makes the world feel even more alive... more like you stepped into its streets as another form of yourself.. in a world full of danger that could turn sour at any moment.
While there is a supposed enemies-to-lovers sort of romance, personally I didn't feel like it fit the normal trope? Maybe that was me... but the romance felt slightly off from both character's views...but it doesn't detract enough from this magical, whirling...darkly intense sensation for me to have to point out in detail.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press as well as Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advanced. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I want to also extend some special thanks to Kejana Ayala at St. Martin's Press for the invite to read this beautiful work of magic, and of politics... set in a beautifully fantastical world that I look forward to falling into again and again. If you are looking for a truly magical read... then I highly suggest checking out the beyond talented Julia Bianco's debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witch Season was a pleasant surprise and a breath of fresh air! Thank you to author Julia Bianco and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.
The first book in an urban fantasy duology which primarily takes place in Los Angeles, California, Witch Season delivered on the promise of urban fantasy and faltered, in my opinion, on the romantic element of its description—a large part of what piqued my interest.
We start this book with Katherine Barnes, the Executrix of the Aestas coven in Los Angeles. The coven leader, Sylvia, does what she has to to ensure Aestas sustains and the good work the coven does to support unsettled witches (young witches from nonmagical/ordinary families whose powers emerge to often chaotic or deadly consequences) until their magic settles continues. Along comes Silas Khatri, the upsettingly perfect heir to the Khatri family and Noctis coven (who reign over all witches, basically) in NYC. Silas pays Aestas a surprise visit, making sure all things witchy are in tip top shape, all while plotting, reluctantly, on his parents’ behalf to take the coven over from Sylvia.
However, through a series of incredibly unfortunate events, Katherine and Silas are thrown together to investigate the death of a young unsettled witch, Lily, and related other matters facing the Aestas coven. From their initially prickly partnership blooms affection and understanding, but they have bigger issues to address—namely, the secret unraveling of Sylvia and her magic and the ramifications this has throughout the witch and ordinary world.
A choice that could have backfired but which ultimately served the narrative quite nicely was the choice to include POV chapters from characters beyond our main romantic duo. Sylvia and Lily’s chapters really rounded out the narrative and allowed me as a reader to watch on with dread as Katherine unraveled the plot.
All in all, I appreciate that I was able to read an ARC of Witch Season and I will certainly be on the lookout for the second book when it is published!
The first book in an urban fantasy duology which primarily takes place in Los Angeles, California, Witch Season delivered on the promise of urban fantasy and faltered, in my opinion, on the romantic element of its description—a large part of what piqued my interest.
We start this book with Katherine Barnes, the Executrix of the Aestas coven in Los Angeles. The coven leader, Sylvia, does what she has to to ensure Aestas sustains and the good work the coven does to support unsettled witches (young witches from nonmagical/ordinary families whose powers emerge to often chaotic or deadly consequences) until their magic settles continues. Along comes Silas Khatri, the upsettingly perfect heir to the Khatri family and Noctis coven (who reign over all witches, basically) in NYC. Silas pays Aestas a surprise visit, making sure all things witchy are in tip top shape, all while plotting, reluctantly, on his parents’ behalf to take the coven over from Sylvia.
However, through a series of incredibly unfortunate events, Katherine and Silas are thrown together to investigate the death of a young unsettled witch, Lily, and related other matters facing the Aestas coven. From their initially prickly partnership blooms affection and understanding, but they have bigger issues to address—namely, the secret unraveling of Sylvia and her magic and the ramifications this has throughout the witch and ordinary world.
A choice that could have backfired but which ultimately served the narrative quite nicely was the choice to include POV chapters from characters beyond our main romantic duo. Sylvia and Lily’s chapters really rounded out the narrative and allowed me as a reader to watch on with dread as Katherine unraveled the plot.
All in all, I appreciate that I was able to read an ARC of Witch Season and I will certainly be on the lookout for the second book when it is published!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witch Season was outside of my normal fantasy "go to" books... while I enjoyed the read, I'm not sure this book was truly for me. I'd rate this book a 3.5, but decided to round down after thinking about it for awhile once I finished.
I thought the magic system was very unique- not just because it requires payment, but it also requires pain. While the magic is freely given, it's not free to use. And it's important to remember what the characters are giving each time they want to use it. Or in the case of some characters... what they're taking. That brings me to my favorite part of this story... the similar backgrounds between our FMC and the antagonist, but also the difference in their characters and their morals. This really highlighted the importance of our choices, our priorities, and our actions. I thought the antagonist's descent into madness was extremely well-written, as was our FMC's rise to responsibility.
I have a few gripes with this book that ultimately led to my rating...
For one, the pacing felt off. I felt as though I kept getting whiplash. The story would pick up and I'd be super engaged and then it would fall off again and would dragggg. The length of the plot building did not align with the climax, in my opinion. The last 15% or so of the book was gripping, but it took far too long to get there. I couldn't keep myself rooted in this story like I normally am with fantasies. I had to keep pushing myself to continue.
I would not market this book as a "romantic" contemporary fantasy... at all. The romance was maybe 5-10% of the book and it felt pretty unnatural and unnecessary. The spicy scenes were so out of place and then immediately tossed aside by the FMC and MMC that they contributed nothing to the story. You could remove the romance entirely and the book would still stand on its own. To me, that's not a "romantic" book in any way. The tension between the characters was great, but there was never anything that pushed them over the edge of hatred into desire or lust. If you're going to have that tension be such a forefront of the plot, you need to double down and truly execute on the romance. Otherwise you miss the enemies to lovers trope entirely.
Just because this book wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for you! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I thought the magic system was very unique- not just because it requires payment, but it also requires pain. While the magic is freely given, it's not free to use. And it's important to remember what the characters are giving each time they want to use it. Or in the case of some characters... what they're taking. That brings me to my favorite part of this story... the similar backgrounds between our FMC and the antagonist, but also the difference in their characters and their morals. This really highlighted the importance of our choices, our priorities, and our actions. I thought the antagonist's descent into madness was extremely well-written, as was our FMC's rise to responsibility.
I have a few gripes with this book that ultimately led to my rating...
For one, the pacing felt off. I felt as though I kept getting whiplash. The story would pick up and I'd be super engaged and then it would fall off again and would dragggg. The length of the plot building did not align with the climax, in my opinion. The last 15% or so of the book was gripping, but it took far too long to get there. I couldn't keep myself rooted in this story like I normally am with fantasies. I had to keep pushing myself to continue.
I would not market this book as a "romantic" contemporary fantasy... at all. The romance was maybe 5-10% of the book and it felt pretty unnatural and unnecessary. The spicy scenes were so out of place and then immediately tossed aside by the FMC and MMC that they contributed nothing to the story. You could remove the romance entirely and the book would still stand on its own. To me, that's not a "romantic" book in any way. The tension between the characters was great, but there was never anything that pushed them over the edge of hatred into desire or lust. If you're going to have that tension be such a forefront of the plot, you need to double down and truly execute on the romance. Otherwise you miss the enemies to lovers trope entirely.
Just because this book wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for you! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 18, 2026
I love that I got the chance to read this book, especially because it’s a debut author's work. I can never pass that up!
Here are some main points about Witch Season:
✷ coven politics
✷ enemies to lovers (more like haters to lovers but romance is limited)
✷ witchy urban fantasy
✷ unique magic system
✷ found family
✷ betrayal
Pacing
This book was extremely fast-paced and exciting. I think it resolved itself in a matter of weeks or even days from start to finish, so it felt like a fun, quick read even for a mid-length book. With the fighting and magic scenes, there wasn't a dull moment in sight. However, I do feel like there were points in the story that felt extremely slow due to characters agonizing over their decisions or rehashing things that stemmed from miscommunication. Those pages were few and far between but they were obvious in the midst of the faster pacing.
Magic System
The way the witches access their magic is completely different than anything I’ve read before and hidden powers/growing into one’s magic is an interesting concept. The magic system in this book was explained in a way that made sense but I found as we got further into the story that I did want to know more about Settled vs Unsettled, the history and strength of those powers. Details really grab me and make me invested in how they relate to the characters so I was missing a little bit of that here.
Characters
The side characters were lovable and I also appreciated the POV from the villain of the story even if the monologue from that individual frustrated me. I will say that some of the though process from characters in their chapters was lengthy and I found myself wanting to be shown what was happening rather than having to read the words, because there tended to be back and forth that slowed down the story. The FMC and the MMC are extremely stubborn and near to the point of a miscommunication trope for me, so I wish there was a point where they were open and honest with each other. However, this is the perfect set up for a second book and the character portrayal and small arcs would make sense in that case.
Overall, I found this book enjoyable because the magic system and story in an urban setting is unique, but do think that it was missing elements that would elevate it. A very good debut story!
Thank you to the NetGalley Team and Julia Bianco for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Here are some main points about Witch Season:
✷ coven politics
✷ enemies to lovers (more like haters to lovers but romance is limited)
✷ witchy urban fantasy
✷ unique magic system
✷ found family
✷ betrayal
Pacing
This book was extremely fast-paced and exciting. I think it resolved itself in a matter of weeks or even days from start to finish, so it felt like a fun, quick read even for a mid-length book. With the fighting and magic scenes, there wasn't a dull moment in sight. However, I do feel like there were points in the story that felt extremely slow due to characters agonizing over their decisions or rehashing things that stemmed from miscommunication. Those pages were few and far between but they were obvious in the midst of the faster pacing.
Magic System
The way the witches access their magic is completely different than anything I’ve read before and hidden powers/growing into one’s magic is an interesting concept. The magic system in this book was explained in a way that made sense but I found as we got further into the story that I did want to know more about Settled vs Unsettled, the history and strength of those powers. Details really grab me and make me invested in how they relate to the characters so I was missing a little bit of that here.
Characters
The side characters were lovable and I also appreciated the POV from the villain of the story even if the monologue from that individual frustrated me. I will say that some of the though process from characters in their chapters was lengthy and I found myself wanting to be shown what was happening rather than having to read the words, because there tended to be back and forth that slowed down the story. The FMC and the MMC are extremely stubborn and near to the point of a miscommunication trope for me, so I wish there was a point where they were open and honest with each other. However, this is the perfect set up for a second book and the character portrayal and small arcs would make sense in that case.
Overall, I found this book enjoyable because the magic system and story in an urban setting is unique, but do think that it was missing elements that would elevate it. A very good debut story!
Thank you to the NetGalley Team and Julia Bianco for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had extremely high hopes for this book upon reading the plot synopsis. The writing style was fantastic. The characters were well crafted and complex. The world-building was also incredibly solid. Normally this would be enough to warrant at least 4 stars from me. However, that ending was a slap in the face that felt unnecessary and really knocked it down for me.
The plot leading to the end was perfectly crafted for Silas and Katherine to have some semblance of a happily ever after/relationship. The reader spends the whole book watching the slow burn of them slowly coming together. Then for the book to end like that, particularly with Silas acting as if he was the sole victim, it felt so unsatisfying as a reader that I was actually angry on behalf of Katherine.
I loved Katherine as a FMC. She was moral and strong but also handled her loyalties delicately which felt real and raw. The supporting cast was well written and added really great comic relief at times to what could be a heavy story (I especially love Fiona and Tess). Sylvia was a complex villain who walked the line between evil and misguided very well. She felt like a realistic villain that could be buried in anyone. Ironically, I also really loved Silas as a MMC up until his last appearance which made the ending feel very untrue to the character he had been portrayed as throughout the rest of the book.
I am not a fan of when books change up the motivations/personality of their characters in the final hour. The last two chapters of this book are a wildly different Silas from that of the rest of the book. While I recognize that not all books have happy endings (nor should they), this one felt like it should at least have a happier ending than the one it has (particularly in regard to the relationship between Silas and Katherine). If I was rating just the book up until the last two/three chapters, this would have been a 4. As is, I would rate this a 3.5 because of how disappointed I was with the ending. When it comes to the full-star rating system, I would be more inclined to pop this down to a 3 instead of bumping it to a 4 due to how unsatisfying that ending was.
I received this book as an advanced reader copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
The plot leading to the end was perfectly crafted for Silas and Katherine to have some semblance of a happily ever after/relationship. The reader spends the whole book watching the slow burn of them slowly coming together. Then for the book to end like that, particularly with Silas acting as if he was the sole victim, it felt so unsatisfying as a reader that I was actually angry on behalf of Katherine.
I loved Katherine as a FMC. She was moral and strong but also handled her loyalties delicately which felt real and raw. The supporting cast was well written and added really great comic relief at times to what could be a heavy story (I especially love Fiona and Tess). Sylvia was a complex villain who walked the line between evil and misguided very well. She felt like a realistic villain that could be buried in anyone. Ironically, I also really loved Silas as a MMC up until his last appearance which made the ending feel very untrue to the character he had been portrayed as throughout the rest of the book.
I am not a fan of when books change up the motivations/personality of their characters in the final hour. The last two chapters of this book are a wildly different Silas from that of the rest of the book. While I recognize that not all books have happy endings (nor should they), this one felt like it should at least have a happier ending than the one it has (particularly in regard to the relationship between Silas and Katherine). If I was rating just the book up until the last two/three chapters, this would have been a 4. As is, I would rate this a 3.5 because of how disappointed I was with the ending. When it comes to the full-star rating system, I would be more inclined to pop this down to a 3 instead of bumping it to a 4 due to how unsatisfying that ending was.
I received this book as an advanced reader copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witch Season is the kind of urban fantasy that grabs you by the collar from page one and refuses to let go. It’s sharp, stylish, and simmering with the kind of tension—magical and otherwise—that makes you read “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 2 a.m.
At the heart of the story is Katherine Barnes, an enforcer for the L.A.-based Aestas coven. She’s fierce, loyal, and carrying more scars—emotional and magical—than she lets on. Her job is messy: tracking down unsettled witches whose powers erupt before they even know they have them. As a former unsettled witch herself, Katherine’s sense of duty is tangled up with gratitude, guilt, and the complicated devotion she feels toward Sylvia Page, the rebel leader who saved her life.
Enter Silas Khatri, heir to the world’s most powerful coven and the last person Katherine wants anywhere near Aestas. He’s polished where she’s jagged, privileged where she’s hardened, and infuriatingly good-looking in a way that only makes things worse. Their dynamic is delicious—equal parts friction, banter, and reluctant alliance—and it gives the book a steady hum of enemies-to-lovers energy without ever overshadowing the plot.
And the plot is big. Bianco builds a world where magic has a cost—blood, pain, and the kind of sacrifice that leaves a mark. As a new threat rises, one that dwarfs old rivalries and coven politics, the story shifts into a high-stakes, full-throttle conflict that still finds room for character depth, found-family bonds, and moments of quiet vulnerability.
What makes Witch Season stand out is how grounded it feels despite all the spellcraft and supernatural chaos. The magic is visceral, the relationships messy and real, and the world layered with history, power struggles, and the lingering ache of past wounds. It’s action-packed, emotionally charged, and threaded with just enough hope to keep the darkness from swallowing everything whole.
A compelling, addictive debut—perfect for readers who love their fantasy with grit, heart, and a spark that refuses to be tamed.
My thanks to Julia Bianco, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
At the heart of the story is Katherine Barnes, an enforcer for the L.A.-based Aestas coven. She’s fierce, loyal, and carrying more scars—emotional and magical—than she lets on. Her job is messy: tracking down unsettled witches whose powers erupt before they even know they have them. As a former unsettled witch herself, Katherine’s sense of duty is tangled up with gratitude, guilt, and the complicated devotion she feels toward Sylvia Page, the rebel leader who saved her life.
Enter Silas Khatri, heir to the world’s most powerful coven and the last person Katherine wants anywhere near Aestas. He’s polished where she’s jagged, privileged where she’s hardened, and infuriatingly good-looking in a way that only makes things worse. Their dynamic is delicious—equal parts friction, banter, and reluctant alliance—and it gives the book a steady hum of enemies-to-lovers energy without ever overshadowing the plot.
And the plot is big. Bianco builds a world where magic has a cost—blood, pain, and the kind of sacrifice that leaves a mark. As a new threat rises, one that dwarfs old rivalries and coven politics, the story shifts into a high-stakes, full-throttle conflict that still finds room for character depth, found-family bonds, and moments of quiet vulnerability.
What makes Witch Season stand out is how grounded it feels despite all the spellcraft and supernatural chaos. The magic is visceral, the relationships messy and real, and the world layered with history, power struggles, and the lingering ache of past wounds. It’s action-packed, emotionally charged, and threaded with just enough hope to keep the darkness from swallowing everything whole.
A compelling, addictive debut—perfect for readers who love their fantasy with grit, heart, and a spark that refuses to be tamed.
My thanks to Julia Bianco, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Julia Bianco’s debut, Witch Season, is a sharp, fast-paced urban fantasy that successfully balances intricate world-building with high-stakes coven politics. The story introduces a solid magic system centered on the friction between "Settled" and "Unsettled" magic—a dichotomy that serves as a metaphor for the struggle between societal conformity and raw, authentic power. Bianco weaves in resonant themes of found family and loyalty, exploring how unhealed trauma can act as a tether, holding a practitioner back from their true potential.
Katherine serves as the story’s emotional anchor, but the narrative shifts between multiple perspectives. This multi-POV approach allows the reader to see the complexities of coven life from various angles, making the world feel lived-in and expansive rather than localized. I was quickly hooked by how these varied perspectives illuminated the internal struggles of characters who are all navigating the weight of their own lineages in different ways.
The only point of narrative friction for me was the pacing of the romance. It was refreshing that the book avoided a standard "enemies to lovers" setup; instead, we get a "guarded heroine vs. instantly smitten hero" dynamic. Silas falls quite hard despite his years of experience, and Katherine—who is established as being deeply protective of her heart—becomes earnest with him a bit too quickly to feel entirely consistent with her character. A slower "slow-burn" would have made their eventual connection feel more earned.
🍵 Final Verdict
Ultimately, the book completely won me back with its powerhouse climax. The final chapters dismantle the status quo, restoring a much more tension-filled and interesting dynamic between Katherine and Silas that sets a high bar for the sequel. By the end, the boundary between the different magics dissolves in a way that leaves the future of these characters beautifully uncertain. This is a solid, promising start to a new series, and I’m eager to see where Bianco takes this world next.
Julia Bianco’s debut, Witch Season, is a sharp, fast-paced urban fantasy that successfully balances intricate world-building with high-stakes coven politics. The story introduces a solid magic system centered on the friction between "Settled" and "Unsettled" magic—a dichotomy that serves as a metaphor for the struggle between societal conformity and raw, authentic power. Bianco weaves in resonant themes of found family and loyalty, exploring how unhealed trauma can act as a tether, holding a practitioner back from their true potential.
Katherine serves as the story’s emotional anchor, but the narrative shifts between multiple perspectives. This multi-POV approach allows the reader to see the complexities of coven life from various angles, making the world feel lived-in and expansive rather than localized. I was quickly hooked by how these varied perspectives illuminated the internal struggles of characters who are all navigating the weight of their own lineages in different ways.
The only point of narrative friction for me was the pacing of the romance. It was refreshing that the book avoided a standard "enemies to lovers" setup; instead, we get a "guarded heroine vs. instantly smitten hero" dynamic. Silas falls quite hard despite his years of experience, and Katherine—who is established as being deeply protective of her heart—becomes earnest with him a bit too quickly to feel entirely consistent with her character. A slower "slow-burn" would have made their eventual connection feel more earned.
🍵 Final Verdict
Ultimately, the book completely won me back with its powerhouse climax. The final chapters dismantle the status quo, restoring a much more tension-filled and interesting dynamic between Katherine and Silas that sets a high bar for the sequel. By the end, the boundary between the different magics dissolves in a way that leaves the future of these characters beautifully uncertain. This is a solid, promising start to a new series, and I’m eager to see where Bianco takes this world next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Generally, I enjoyed the concept of Julia Bianco's debut urban fantasy about a world of magic where witches are either raised in covens under a system from a start, or spontaneously come into their magic in dangerous ways. Within that, the three main characters of Katherine, Sylvia, and Silas represent three different perspectives on that world: one who experienced trauma and was grateful for a system and structure and rules, one who found the system limiting and wanted more, and one who utterly believed in and accepted the system they were raised under. They all have what they believe are good intentions, but the ways that ends up affecting others and having some big implications is an interesting setup.
It took me a bit to get doing in this book, but once I did things moved at a pretty fast pace. A few things did not work for me. It was pretty immediately apparent that Sylvia was exploiting Katherine's gratitude and belief in her and watching that was so frustrating - as was the rapid almost comic book villain descent that followed for Sylvia. The romance felt a little shallow and haphazard, almost like an obligatory throw in - I don't think it truly added anything or made me more invested in the characters. Also, logistically speaking, we support the wrap it before you tap it, but I think there was a mysteriously appearing then disappearing condom in their first get it on scene. And Silas had some truly baffling behaviors throughout: he was certainly the most head scratching character and for sure ended the book as such. The ending felt rushed and chaotic, as well : after finishing, it makes sense that this will be at least (and hopefully no more than) a duology, but I do genuinely think that with some cleanup and intention this would make a pretty solid standalone.
So for me, certainly not a read that goes down as one of my favorites, and I most likely won't continue on for future releases. However, I do appreciate the thought and deliberation that went into something that felt fresh and unique, and I see potential in future novels.
Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC of Witch Season.
It took me a bit to get doing in this book, but once I did things moved at a pretty fast pace. A few things did not work for me. It was pretty immediately apparent that Sylvia was exploiting Katherine's gratitude and belief in her and watching that was so frustrating - as was the rapid almost comic book villain descent that followed for Sylvia. The romance felt a little shallow and haphazard, almost like an obligatory throw in - I don't think it truly added anything or made me more invested in the characters. Also, logistically speaking, we support the wrap it before you tap it, but I think there was a mysteriously appearing then disappearing condom in their first get it on scene. And Silas had some truly baffling behaviors throughout: he was certainly the most head scratching character and for sure ended the book as such. The ending felt rushed and chaotic, as well : after finishing, it makes sense that this will be at least (and hopefully no more than) a duology, but I do genuinely think that with some cleanup and intention this would make a pretty solid standalone.
So for me, certainly not a read that goes down as one of my favorites, and I most likely won't continue on for future releases. However, I do appreciate the thought and deliberation that went into something that felt fresh and unique, and I see potential in future novels.
Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC of Witch Season.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witch Season is a compelling urban fantasy novel with twists and turns. Our main character, Katherine, works to enforce the laws of her Los Angeles-based witch coven, under the supervision of her supervisor and mentor Sylvia. Simultaneously, their parent organization has issued an audit, led by their golden boy Silas. Silas is deeply entrenched in a system that prioritizes the wealthy and powerful, and his character is in direct opposition to Katherine, who constantly advocates for the marginalized. The two are at odds about the fate of the Los Angeles coven, and start to work together as something sinister emerges from within the system.
The writing in this book is very easy to read, with quick pacing and accessible language. The book feels like a movie put into words, which feels consistent with Bianco’s history as a scriptwriter. The book has really good twists throughout, as the audience learns quickly that Katherine’s faith in Sylvia may be misplaced. Katherine’s loyalty to her boss is deeply rooted in Sylvia’s past help, and the characterization is really layered and interesting.
The story is part of a duology, but this book felt like it did a good job of resolving the issue at hand while opening the door for more story. Our main characters, Silas and Katherine, both experienced growth and still have space to grow. The plot opened up a new conflict to be resolved in the next book while also reflecting on entrenched power.
There seemed to be a plot hole at the end of the story, as Silas reveals knowing something that I can’t figure out how he could have known. He uses this as justification for specific actions, but I don’t know how he would have known it, as it was private information that our main character shared with a select group who wouldn’t have shared. I don’t want to get into spoilers, but I’m confused how the details were shared.
Altogether, this was a really interesting, fast-paced book reflecting on power and privilege. I hope that the next book is able to resolve some of the character development we saw happen in this story.
The writing in this book is very easy to read, with quick pacing and accessible language. The book feels like a movie put into words, which feels consistent with Bianco’s history as a scriptwriter. The book has really good twists throughout, as the audience learns quickly that Katherine’s faith in Sylvia may be misplaced. Katherine’s loyalty to her boss is deeply rooted in Sylvia’s past help, and the characterization is really layered and interesting.
The story is part of a duology, but this book felt like it did a good job of resolving the issue at hand while opening the door for more story. Our main characters, Silas and Katherine, both experienced growth and still have space to grow. The plot opened up a new conflict to be resolved in the next book while also reflecting on entrenched power.
There seemed to be a plot hole at the end of the story, as Silas reveals knowing something that I can’t figure out how he could have known. He uses this as justification for specific actions, but I don’t know how he would have known it, as it was private information that our main character shared with a select group who wouldn’t have shared. I don’t want to get into spoilers, but I’m confused how the details were shared.
Altogether, this was a really interesting, fast-paced book reflecting on power and privilege. I hope that the next book is able to resolve some of the character development we saw happen in this story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I requested this book from NetGalley because it's described as a mix between Buffy and Ninth House. Spoiler alert- it's not.
Then before the book starts, you get a trigger warning for sex so I'm like "ooo, a witchy sexy romance." Another spoiler- it's not.
Then I was like, do I really want to read another witch romantasy chic lit-y book right now? I've done too many recently. Another spoiler- this isn't like the others. There is romance but it's not the point of the book.
Clearly I have no clue how they should have marketed this and maybe Buffy and Ninth House are the most accurate as they do have a similar starkness and lost woman standing up to the world mostly alone.
What it is is a quite creative story that has a fresh, modern edge to it. It feels different from most witchy books. And it moves. At one point I looked at the corner to see where I was, thinking the Kindle would say like 8% and it was at 23% and I was surprised and slightly angry, I didn't want to go through this book that quickly.
The sex is pretty detailed but not much of it and it serves a purpose.
The book is written to a series, which always annoys me and I wasn't happy where it ended, as nothing is wrapped up, instead everyone is in their corners, preparing for the next fight. I'm happy to see it's only a duology so the story will get wrapped up. I hope it's not like Ninth House in that it's going to take years for the next book to come out so I forget and don't care. It's a good world she has created-- as much as I want this story to get wrapped up and these characters to get what they should, the world would lend itself to other stories from other characters.
So do I recommend it? Yes. It might not be for everyone, but it's gritty and magical and has well fleshed out characters and goes to interesting places.
It's annoying cause the book isn't even due to be released for 6 months. So the wait for the sequel in the best of circumstances is going to be annoyingly long,
ATY: A book with a primary character who is a woman over 40
Then before the book starts, you get a trigger warning for sex so I'm like "ooo, a witchy sexy romance." Another spoiler- it's not.
Then I was like, do I really want to read another witch romantasy chic lit-y book right now? I've done too many recently. Another spoiler- this isn't like the others. There is romance but it's not the point of the book.
Clearly I have no clue how they should have marketed this and maybe Buffy and Ninth House are the most accurate as they do have a similar starkness and lost woman standing up to the world mostly alone.
What it is is a quite creative story that has a fresh, modern edge to it. It feels different from most witchy books. And it moves. At one point I looked at the corner to see where I was, thinking the Kindle would say like 8% and it was at 23% and I was surprised and slightly angry, I didn't want to go through this book that quickly.
The sex is pretty detailed but not much of it and it serves a purpose.
The book is written to a series, which always annoys me and I wasn't happy where it ended, as nothing is wrapped up, instead everyone is in their corners, preparing for the next fight. I'm happy to see it's only a duology so the story will get wrapped up. I hope it's not like Ninth House in that it's going to take years for the next book to come out so I forget and don't care. It's a good world she has created-- as much as I want this story to get wrapped up and these characters to get what they should, the world would lend itself to other stories from other characters.
So do I recommend it? Yes. It might not be for everyone, but it's gritty and magical and has well fleshed out characters and goes to interesting places.
It's annoying cause the book isn't even due to be released for 6 months. So the wait for the sequel in the best of circumstances is going to be annoyingly long,
ATY: A book with a primary character who is a woman over 40
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Witch Season by Julia Bianco
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! 🧡🌙✨
This one is burning with tension, the kind that lives in blood oaths, bitter betrayals, and long looks across a crowded room. It’s witchy, gritty, and full of sharp edges.
From the opening chapter, I was swept up in the brutal beauty of this world. The magic here isn’t gentle. It hurts. It claws its way out. It leaves scars. 🩸✨
Katherine Barnes is the kind of heroine who doesn’t flinch. An enforcer with a past, fiercely loyal to the coven that saved her, she walks the line between protector and weapon. Watching her unravel what loyalty really means, and who deserves it, is both painful and empowering. 💥💔
Then Silas Khatri walks in, all dangerous calm and heir-to-everything energy. He’s not your typical enemy-to-lover, their dynamic is more complicated than that. She bristles. He watches. And slowly, something more blooms beneath all that tension. It’s not a soft love story. It’s one that scrapes against the bones. 🖤🔥
• Compelling worldbuilding with a real sense of politics and power
• Found family themes woven through layers of trauma and secrecy
• A magic system that hurts and feels earned
• Romantic tension that sizzles and stings
But not everything was spell-perfect:
• The pacing of the romance felt a little too quick for two people with so much guardedness
• Katherine opens up to Silas faster than expected, which softened her edge a bit too soon
• Some reveals land harder than others. I was gutted by the ending, but wanted a bit more grounding along the way
Still, that ending? Brutal. Bold. Bleeding with promise. The kind of twist that makes you want to throw the book… and then beg for the next one. 💀📚
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A dark, ambitious debut that crackles with chaos and conviction. I’ll be following this coven into the fire.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! 🧡🌙✨
This one is burning with tension, the kind that lives in blood oaths, bitter betrayals, and long looks across a crowded room. It’s witchy, gritty, and full of sharp edges.
From the opening chapter, I was swept up in the brutal beauty of this world. The magic here isn’t gentle. It hurts. It claws its way out. It leaves scars. 🩸✨
Katherine Barnes is the kind of heroine who doesn’t flinch. An enforcer with a past, fiercely loyal to the coven that saved her, she walks the line between protector and weapon. Watching her unravel what loyalty really means, and who deserves it, is both painful and empowering. 💥💔
Then Silas Khatri walks in, all dangerous calm and heir-to-everything energy. He’s not your typical enemy-to-lover, their dynamic is more complicated than that. She bristles. He watches. And slowly, something more blooms beneath all that tension. It’s not a soft love story. It’s one that scrapes against the bones. 🖤🔥
• Compelling worldbuilding with a real sense of politics and power
• Found family themes woven through layers of trauma and secrecy
• A magic system that hurts and feels earned
• Romantic tension that sizzles and stings
But not everything was spell-perfect:
• The pacing of the romance felt a little too quick for two people with so much guardedness
• Katherine opens up to Silas faster than expected, which softened her edge a bit too soon
• Some reveals land harder than others. I was gutted by the ending, but wanted a bit more grounding along the way
Still, that ending? Brutal. Bold. Bleeding with promise. The kind of twist that makes you want to throw the book… and then beg for the next one. 💀📚
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A dark, ambitious debut that crackles with chaos and conviction. I’ll be following this coven into the fire.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Katherine is the "executrix" for the Aestas coven - meaning she is the law enforcement making sure that everybody else is sticking to the laws and in charge of carrying out punishments. When she was younger she was "unsettled" so instead of being born to a family of witches she came into her magic around puberty and had no idea what was happening to her or how to control it. Unfortunately, as a result of this she "snapped" when a large amount of magical energy is released leading to massive destruction and in Katherine's case some deaths. She is rescued by an older witch, Sybil who is now the head of Aestas, who went through the same sort of magical awakening and now Katherine has a mission to find any unsettled witches she can in order to get them under the care of the coven and help them manage their powers. Lily is one such young witch, so Katherine goes and collects her and introduces her to the rest of the coven and lets her know that she could have a future with them and not have to struggle on her own in the future. Sybil has a problem where her magic is weakening, possibly because she was unsettled, but she's struggling to keep up with the responsibilities required of her. A corporate coven who has oversight of the smaller local one, Noctis, sends a representative to check on Aestas. Enter Silas, ridiculously good looking executor who immediately puts Katherine's back up.
I enjoyed the book on the whole, the story was pretty fast paced and the main characters were well developed. Saying that though, the side characters were a bit neglected and I was quite surprised when they popped up later on in the book as I expected them to just be filler from the start. Also there are a couple of steamy scenes that came out of nowhere - I mean obviously there is chemistry between the two characters, but maybe having to scale a building that is on fire to try and escape with your life and having sex in an alley was a bit abrupt?!
I enjoyed the book on the whole, the story was pretty fast paced and the main characters were well developed. Saying that though, the side characters were a bit neglected and I was quite surprised when they popped up later on in the book as I expected them to just be filler from the start. Also there are a couple of steamy scenes that came out of nowhere - I mean obviously there is chemistry between the two characters, but maybe having to scale a building that is on fire to try and escape with your life and having sex in an alley was a bit abrupt?!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for providing the eARC of this book.
Witch Season by Julia Bianco is a thrilling romantasy that immediately pulled me in with its dark energy and compelling premise. Katherine Barnes, an Aestes coven enforcer—an executrix—who wields blood magic to get things done, is a fascinating protagonist with real grit and presence. The magic system is especially well done: it isn’t an endless font of power, but something that comes with real cost and requires discipline, which adds weight and tension to every spell. I also loved Katherine’s friend group; they felt well fleshed out, and their individual moments helped expand the story of the coven in a way that made the world feel lived-in and emotionally grounded. The underlying connection between Katherine and Silas, the Noctis executor and heir, adds an intriguing back-and-forth of longing and restraint.
That said, there were moments where the emotional chemistry between certain characters felt a bit shallow or one-sided, especially given how intense the overall story is. I found myself wanting those relationships to be pushed further to match the stakes and darkness of the plot. Without spoiling anything, the ending also felt slightly rushed; I was hoping for a bit more catharsis, particularly a fuller reflection that explored what was truly learned from the chaos of everything.
Even so, I came away genuinely caring about the cast of characters, which speaks volumes about the strength of the writing and character foundations. I would happily spend more time in this world and would love to see deeper world-building around the covens and the Aestes members in future installments. Witch Season is an engaging, intense read with a strong core, and it left me excited to see where Julia Bianco takes this story next. 3.5/5
Witch Season by Julia Bianco is a thrilling romantasy that immediately pulled me in with its dark energy and compelling premise. Katherine Barnes, an Aestes coven enforcer—an executrix—who wields blood magic to get things done, is a fascinating protagonist with real grit and presence. The magic system is especially well done: it isn’t an endless font of power, but something that comes with real cost and requires discipline, which adds weight and tension to every spell. I also loved Katherine’s friend group; they felt well fleshed out, and their individual moments helped expand the story of the coven in a way that made the world feel lived-in and emotionally grounded. The underlying connection between Katherine and Silas, the Noctis executor and heir, adds an intriguing back-and-forth of longing and restraint.
That said, there were moments where the emotional chemistry between certain characters felt a bit shallow or one-sided, especially given how intense the overall story is. I found myself wanting those relationships to be pushed further to match the stakes and darkness of the plot. Without spoiling anything, the ending also felt slightly rushed; I was hoping for a bit more catharsis, particularly a fuller reflection that explored what was truly learned from the chaos of everything.
Even so, I came away genuinely caring about the cast of characters, which speaks volumes about the strength of the writing and character foundations. I would happily spend more time in this world and would love to see deeper world-building around the covens and the Aestes members in future installments. Witch Season is an engaging, intense read with a strong core, and it left me excited to see where Julia Bianco takes this story next. 3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews