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We Call Them Witches
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26For fans of The Watchers and T. Kingfisher comes a queer, post-apocalyptic horror following one woman's journey across a merciless wasteland to save her brother and confront the dark truth behind the monsters that ravaged the world - with the help of a woman she's not sure she can trust but can't help falling for.
Nearly everyone died the first night they came…
Two years ago, monstrous beings tore through Britain, leaving few survivors. Now Sara and her family live on the run, relying on scraps of folklore and fading pagan rituals to stay safe from the eldritch creatures they call "witches".
While her mother grows increasingly paranoid, Sara longs for something more than fear.
Then a strange girl appears in the garden of their current camp. Her name is Parsley, and she cannot remember where she came from or why she's there. Despite her family's suspicions, Sara feels drawn to her.
But when Sara's younger brother is taken by the Witches, she and Parsley must cross desolate moors full of merciless terrors to get him back. As their bond deepens, so do the dangers they face—and Sara begins to question whether anything is truly as it seems.
In a world ruled by terror and myth, trust is the only thing more dangerous than the Witches themselves.
Nearly everyone died the first night they came…
Two years ago, monstrous beings tore through Britain, leaving few survivors. Now Sara and her family live on the run, relying on scraps of folklore and fading pagan rituals to stay safe from the eldritch creatures they call "witches".
While her mother grows increasingly paranoid, Sara longs for something more than fear.
Then a strange girl appears in the garden of their current camp. Her name is Parsley, and she cannot remember where she came from or why she's there. Despite her family's suspicions, Sara feels drawn to her.
But when Sara's younger brother is taken by the Witches, she and Parsley must cross desolate moors full of merciless terrors to get him back. As their bond deepens, so do the dangers they face—and Sara begins to question whether anything is truly as it seems.
In a world ruled by terror and myth, trust is the only thing more dangerous than the Witches themselves.
Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
did-not-finish
January 5, 2026DNF @ 31%
I'm a HUGE fan of post-apocalyptic stories and this read like every other post-apocalyptic story out there. Nothing stood out to me. The FMC and her family were very bland. The witches were like every faceless entity from every post-apocalyptic horror that's been written before. It also read a lot more YA than adult.
And it's totally unfortunate that I was currently reading this book with Parable of the Sower, which is one of the defining books of the post-apocalyptic genre and which I'm enjoying a lot more.
I think the audience for this novel might be folks who like The End We Start From or How I Live Now. Heavy on the vibes, less on the actual plot.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this arc.
I'm a HUGE fan of post-apocalyptic stories and this read like every other post-apocalyptic story out there. Nothing stood out to me. The FMC and her family were very bland. The witches were like every faceless entity from every post-apocalyptic horror that's been written before. It also read a lot more YA than adult.
And it's totally unfortunate that I was currently reading this book with Parable of the Sower, which is one of the defining books of the post-apocalyptic genre and which I'm enjoying a lot more.
I think the audience for this novel might be folks who like The End We Start From or How I Live Now. Heavy on the vibes, less on the actual plot.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this arc.
September 9, 2025
Dark, eerie, occult, and sapphic? Im listening.
I love the vibes. Let me repeat- I LOVE the vibes.
This really gave me the feeling of both classic and modern takes on horror.
If you were to combine “The Blair Witch Project” with “A Quiet Place”, I think you would end up with something like this book.
The “witches” in this story were so interesting.
They are very different from what you would typically imagine when you think of a witch.
They are more like monsters or animals- and do not share human characteristics.
I really wish that we got a little bit more description on them! As it seems each one is very different.
We do still get some typical witchy elements in this.
Particularly in the use of wards, like stones and herbs that the humans use to protect themselves.
I am so glad the author did things this way, because it really added so much excitement for me.
I just love classic dark magic themes.
I think the only thing missing here is a backstory.
It would have been great to hear about life when the witches first appeared, and how the humans learned to ward them off.
Huge oppournity for a prequel here! I would rush to read it.
There is also a sapphic side-romance going on, between the main characters Sara and Parsley.
I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers, but this was big. And emotional.
This book pulled me right out of a reading slump. I would absolutely recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and author India-Rose Bower for providing me with the eARC of “We Call Them Witches”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: April 07, 2026
I love the vibes. Let me repeat- I LOVE the vibes.
This really gave me the feeling of both classic and modern takes on horror.
If you were to combine “The Blair Witch Project” with “A Quiet Place”, I think you would end up with something like this book.
The “witches” in this story were so interesting.
They are very different from what you would typically imagine when you think of a witch.
They are more like monsters or animals- and do not share human characteristics.
I really wish that we got a little bit more description on them! As it seems each one is very different.
We do still get some typical witchy elements in this.
Particularly in the use of wards, like stones and herbs that the humans use to protect themselves.
I am so glad the author did things this way, because it really added so much excitement for me.
I just love classic dark magic themes.
I think the only thing missing here is a backstory.
It would have been great to hear about life when the witches first appeared, and how the humans learned to ward them off.
Huge oppournity for a prequel here! I would rush to read it.
There is also a sapphic side-romance going on, between the main characters Sara and Parsley.
I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers, but this was big. And emotional.
This book pulled me right out of a reading slump. I would absolutely recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and author India-Rose Bower for providing me with the eARC of “We Call Them Witches”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: April 07, 2026
August 24, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley & Michael Joseph Penguin Random House
Okay, so We Are Witches was a ride. I loved the whole concept—post-apocalyptic Britain mixed with folklore? Yes please. The atmosphere was eerie and vivid, and I actually felt like the moors and forests were alive. The family dynamics were also really well done; they bicker and clash like a real family, which made them feel believable. And I’ll give it this: the mystery kept me hooked. I was constantly wondering what the witches really were, what happened to the world, and where it was all going. The twist at the end definitely surprised me.
But… the execution didn’t always hit. The beginning dragged a little, and then the ending felt kind of rushed. There are a lot of time jumps between past and present, which sometimes left me confused, and I wanted more clarity about the witches themselves, they were interesting but stayed a bit too vague. I also struggled with Sara’s choices at times; her obsession with Parsley didn’t always feel realistic compared to, y’know, saving her brother.
Overall: a really cool idea, great atmosphere, and some creepy, gruesome details—but uneven pacing and a rushed finale held it back for me.
Okay, so We Are Witches was a ride. I loved the whole concept—post-apocalyptic Britain mixed with folklore? Yes please. The atmosphere was eerie and vivid, and I actually felt like the moors and forests were alive. The family dynamics were also really well done; they bicker and clash like a real family, which made them feel believable. And I’ll give it this: the mystery kept me hooked. I was constantly wondering what the witches really were, what happened to the world, and where it was all going. The twist at the end definitely surprised me.
But… the execution didn’t always hit. The beginning dragged a little, and then the ending felt kind of rushed. There are a lot of time jumps between past and present, which sometimes left me confused, and I wanted more clarity about the witches themselves, they were interesting but stayed a bit too vague. I also struggled with Sara’s choices at times; her obsession with Parsley didn’t always feel realistic compared to, y’know, saving her brother.
Overall: a really cool idea, great atmosphere, and some creepy, gruesome details—but uneven pacing and a rushed finale held it back for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
my review will be in Scream magazine
I LOVED this!
I LOVED this!
September 26, 2025
I've not read an apocalyptic work and this was different from what I expected.
The first half of the story focussed on the life led by Sara, surrounded by her family, who protected them through wards from the witches. The witches in the story aren't really witches, but something more evil and difficult to be controlled. Sara and her family was living comfortably (as far as a post apocalyptic world can be), when a girl arrives - Parsley.
Parsley's arrival led to discomfort among the house members and they believe she is one of the witches. But she wasn't and before anyone could predict it, Sara and Parsley forms a bond that made their life bearable amidst the circumstances. It was until Sara's younger brother is taken by a witch and the family goes in search of him.
Truth be told, I enjoyed reading on Sara's life. Her family even with all their issues, loved each other deeply. Sibling bond was also shown beautifully where Sara's interactions with her younger siblings was filled with love and quarrels.
I was able to see the story through Sara's eyes. The way she comforts Parsley even when her family distrusts her. The love they shared through stolen glances was interesting to read.
I also liked the thrill that came when the characters leave the safety of their house to search for her brother. Close encounters with the witches and near death experience made this story thrilling.
The last twist and an emotional ending made me really feel sentimental. But in reality, I wished to know more about the witches and have something more to this story.
Overall, it was an okay read for me.
The first half of the story focussed on the life led by Sara, surrounded by her family, who protected them through wards from the witches. The witches in the story aren't really witches, but something more evil and difficult to be controlled. Sara and her family was living comfortably (as far as a post apocalyptic world can be), when a girl arrives - Parsley.
Parsley's arrival led to discomfort among the house members and they believe she is one of the witches. But she wasn't and before anyone could predict it, Sara and Parsley forms a bond that made their life bearable amidst the circumstances. It was until Sara's younger brother is taken by a witch and the family goes in search of him.
Truth be told, I enjoyed reading on Sara's life. Her family even with all their issues, loved each other deeply. Sibling bond was also shown beautifully where Sara's interactions with her younger siblings was filled with love and quarrels.
I was able to see the story through Sara's eyes. The way she comforts Parsley even when her family distrusts her. The love they shared through stolen glances was interesting to read.
I also liked the thrill that came when the characters leave the safety of their house to search for her brother. Close encounters with the witches and near death experience made this story thrilling.
The last twist and an emotional ending made me really feel sentimental. But in reality, I wished to know more about the witches and have something more to this story.
Overall, it was an okay read for me.
February 2, 2026
It’s post apocalyptic, it’s sapphic, it’s witchy (in a way). Should meet all the basic criteria for enjoyment! But alas, it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I’m a little disappointed.
It wasn’t bad, really. How I can best describe it is, it’s like eating a bowl of noodles that was advertised as extra hot and the flavor is just… mild. I’ll get into it.
We’re thrust into a dystopian world that’s bleak and unpredictable. We have our main character, Sara and her two siblings, Danny and Noah, who are trying to navigate the situation they find themselves in after a catastrophic event struck. Nearly everybody was wiped out the first few nights. Then, by the title of the book you’d probably expect there to be witches. There… kind of are? Not in the way you’d think though, they’re closer to being animal-like creatures than your average witch. There’s not much to say about the witches because we were left sort of hanging on that, we don’t know much about them.
That being said, the plot wasn’t the strongest. A little weak, if anything. I couldn’t find head nor tail of what was going on. There’s a kidnapping happening at a point, a strong direction for the plot to go in, I’ll say. So they’re just walking around trying to solve it. I liked that there was, however rushed it felt, a queer love story between two women, one of them being the MC. There’s a nonbinary character as well, Sara’s older sibling Danny. And I always love to see any kind of queer rep in books! But as I mentioned, the romance felt rushed, like a lot of the book. It also jumped in time quite a bit so that can get confusing.
The twist at the end I didn’t expect in the least, and the gory parts, the body horror and nature horror (I guess you could call it?) were done really well, so those both deserve some credit. The atmosphere felt very authentic to what I would think a post apocalyptic world would look like, it read very bleak. But still hopeful! Like the ending, it lightened things up a bit. I also loved the sibling bond the three of them had, it felt realistic.
The one thing I just couldn’t get past was all the pop culture references. One more movie title drop and I would’ve lost it. Maybe not every chapter had them but very nearly. And that’s just something I can’t stand, I’m sorry!
It sounds like I was miserable reading this book but I promise this wasn’t the case. I had a good time overall, I just think it’s also important to point out a book’s faults as well as its strengths. And this time, I think the cons outweigh the pros, critically speaking.
I would give this a 3.25/5⭐️ if we really want to be specific. I flew through it, it was a quick read and I would even recommend it, it just wouldn’t be first on the list.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It wasn’t bad, really. How I can best describe it is, it’s like eating a bowl of noodles that was advertised as extra hot and the flavor is just… mild. I’ll get into it.
We’re thrust into a dystopian world that’s bleak and unpredictable. We have our main character, Sara and her two siblings, Danny and Noah, who are trying to navigate the situation they find themselves in after a catastrophic event struck. Nearly everybody was wiped out the first few nights. Then, by the title of the book you’d probably expect there to be witches. There… kind of are? Not in the way you’d think though, they’re closer to being animal-like creatures than your average witch. There’s not much to say about the witches because we were left sort of hanging on that, we don’t know much about them.
That being said, the plot wasn’t the strongest. A little weak, if anything. I couldn’t find head nor tail of what was going on. There’s a kidnapping happening at a point, a strong direction for the plot to go in, I’ll say. So they’re just walking around trying to solve it. I liked that there was, however rushed it felt, a queer love story between two women, one of them being the MC. There’s a nonbinary character as well, Sara’s older sibling Danny. And I always love to see any kind of queer rep in books! But as I mentioned, the romance felt rushed, like a lot of the book. It also jumped in time quite a bit so that can get confusing.
The twist at the end I didn’t expect in the least, and the gory parts, the body horror and nature horror (I guess you could call it?) were done really well, so those both deserve some credit. The atmosphere felt very authentic to what I would think a post apocalyptic world would look like, it read very bleak. But still hopeful! Like the ending, it lightened things up a bit. I also loved the sibling bond the three of them had, it felt realistic.
The one thing I just couldn’t get past was all the pop culture references. One more movie title drop and I would’ve lost it. Maybe not every chapter had them but very nearly. And that’s just something I can’t stand, I’m sorry!
It sounds like I was miserable reading this book but I promise this wasn’t the case. I had a good time overall, I just think it’s also important to point out a book’s faults as well as its strengths. And this time, I think the cons outweigh the pros, critically speaking.
I would give this a 3.25/5⭐️ if we really want to be specific. I flew through it, it was a quick read and I would even recommend it, it just wouldn’t be first on the list.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2025
➳ four stars
in a post-apocalyptic world full of nightmares, the people are hunted by obscure forces. sara and her family start calling them witches. as humans, we feel the need to categorize everything we experience with our senses, that’s why naming things is so important to us. giving a name to something helps us understand the world around us.
one day when a new girl shows up, her family’s routine gets disrupted. who is she? and what does she want from them? tensions arise, inside and outside the house. sara is deeply interested in this new girl and they soon become close. i loved the dynamic between sara and parsley, their interactions were sweet. sometimes they did dumb things but i was captivated by their dynamic until the very end.
the horror element was well-written, i couldn’t put the book down. i felt the witches gaze following the characters, it was eerie and spooky. the mystery was engaging, but after that build-up i expected a more impactful reveal. a lot of questions are left unanswered which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. i enjoyed creating my own theories and trying to understand what was happening alongside the characters, who were also completely unaware of everything.
i went into this blindly and i recommend you do too. checking the synopsis now, i feel like it gives one major plot-twist away (which happens halfway through the book!). the focus of the story in the first half is the world-building. it is slower paced but it is necessary to understand the world sara lives in. beware of that if you want to pick this up.
arc kindly given by the publisher. all opinions are my own.
———
i’m seated. the goodreads employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s 'not april yet' but i’m simply too seated.
in a post-apocalyptic world full of nightmares, the people are hunted by obscure forces. sara and her family start calling them witches. as humans, we feel the need to categorize everything we experience with our senses, that’s why naming things is so important to us. giving a name to something helps us understand the world around us.
one day when a new girl shows up, her family’s routine gets disrupted. who is she? and what does she want from them? tensions arise, inside and outside the house. sara is deeply interested in this new girl and they soon become close. i loved the dynamic between sara and parsley, their interactions were sweet. sometimes they did dumb things but i was captivated by their dynamic until the very end.
the horror element was well-written, i couldn’t put the book down. i felt the witches gaze following the characters, it was eerie and spooky. the mystery was engaging, but after that build-up i expected a more impactful reveal. a lot of questions are left unanswered which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. i enjoyed creating my own theories and trying to understand what was happening alongside the characters, who were also completely unaware of everything.
i went into this blindly and i recommend you do too. checking the synopsis now, i feel like it gives one major plot-twist away (which happens halfway through the book!). the focus of the story in the first half is the world-building. it is slower paced but it is necessary to understand the world sara lives in. beware of that if you want to pick this up.
arc kindly given by the publisher. all opinions are my own.
———
i’m seated. the goodreads employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s 'not april yet' but i’m simply too seated.
February 3, 2026
2.5 Stars rounded up to 3 Stars
✨✨✨Intriguing Plot, but fell a bit short for me.✨✨✨
We Call Them Witches is a book that sounded 100% right up my alley! From the summary I saw post apocalyptic, eldritch type creatures, folklore… etc. I was like, YES PLEASE !🙏
I really liked the overall premise and some parts of this story is very interesting. However, the characters and the story overall felt pretty flat for me. That made it a bit difficult for me to really care about what was happening. Such an intriguing plot, but it just didn’t ever fully take off for me and then it just ended a bit abruptly as well. I really like the idea and where this could have gone, but the execution just didn’t work for me. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 7, 2026.
✨✨✨Intriguing Plot, but fell a bit short for me.✨✨✨
We Call Them Witches is a book that sounded 100% right up my alley! From the summary I saw post apocalyptic, eldritch type creatures, folklore… etc. I was like, YES PLEASE !🙏
I really liked the overall premise and some parts of this story is very interesting. However, the characters and the story overall felt pretty flat for me. That made it a bit difficult for me to really care about what was happening. Such an intriguing plot, but it just didn’t ever fully take off for me and then it just ended a bit abruptly as well. I really like the idea and where this could have gone, but the execution just didn’t work for me. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 7, 2026.
September 2, 2025
We Call Them Witches is a perfect Eldritch horror read set in present day. It follows Sara who, after the world is set upon by creatures, survives with her family with the use of wards. With the unexpected arrival of Parsley that survival is tested when the witches steal away one of Sara's siblings, prompting a journey across the county to bring him back.
This was a brilliant read, and quite gruesome in parts so if you're not a fan of body horror I'd give this a miss. TW warnings include death and body horror. I'll definitely be reading more books by India if they're anything like this.
This was a brilliant read, and quite gruesome in parts so if you're not a fan of body horror I'd give this a miss. TW warnings include death and body horror. I'll definitely be reading more books by India if they're anything like this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was going to rate this three stars but the ending did it for me. I loved this. I was so stressed out during some parts, the creatures they call 'witches' are described in such a way sometimes, you can feel them breathing next to you. This is definitely a sign for me to start reading more horror as I'm not really familiar with the genre. I liked the eerie and spooky vibe, and the writing most of the time. It had a pretty slow start and the second half was definitely more enjoyable for me, but all in all i'm glad I've read this ! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was stoked for a post-apocalyptic setting mixed with folklore and sapphic love but unfortunately this book did not deliver.
The one positive thing is that the writing worked for me. It did really make me feel isolated in a post-apocalyptic world with a family that tries to handle it. The problem is that this was literally the first half of the book. I wasn't bored exactly because, again, I enjoyed the writing but still, you can't start the plot at the halfway point.
The second half completely lost me. After so much contemplation as to what the "witches" actually were, we got no answers. Instead we got a plot twist that wasn't plot twisting and a bleak ending that was whatever.
Still on the lookout for something to make me fell like "The Last of Us".
The one positive thing is that the writing worked for me. It did really make me feel isolated in a post-apocalyptic world with a family that tries to handle it. The problem is that this was literally the first half of the book. I wasn't bored exactly because, again, I enjoyed the writing but still, you can't start the plot at the halfway point.
The second half completely lost me. After so much contemplation as to what the "witches" actually were, we got no answers. Instead we got a plot twist that wasn't plot twisting and a bleak ending that was whatever.
Still on the lookout for something to make me fell like "The Last of Us".
July 15, 2025
🌑 ARC Review – We Call Them Witches by India-Rose Bower
📅 Release date: 22 Jan 2026
⭐️ 1/5 stars
#WeCallThemWitches #NetGalley
This was my first NetGalley ARC and I was excited: queer horror, folklore, post-apocalyptic Britain. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.
The writing felt overly stylised, packed with clashing metaphors and odd analogies that made it hard to follow. The plot meandered with random, often confusing moments (including one bizarre line about a vibrator that’s never mentioned again).
Character building was another struggle. I never truly got to know Sara, and the world building was bogged down by so much fluff that both plot and character fell flat. At times, I felt like Bastian in The Never Ending Story, shouting at the book to give me more.
The handling of pronouns and language also muddled things. Instead of enhancing dynamics, it often made sentences clunky and unclear. It felt like the book was trying so hard to be different, it forgot to be readable.
Overall, reading this felt like walking through a crowd of people waiting for a train, when all I wanted was to catch the bus. To quote the book itself, it was full of “ranting tangents that lose track of themselves halfway through.” That line sums it up perfectly.
Offbeat, meandering, and sadly just not for me.
📅 Release date: 22 Jan 2026
⭐️ 1/5 stars
#WeCallThemWitches #NetGalley
This was my first NetGalley ARC and I was excited: queer horror, folklore, post-apocalyptic Britain. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me.
The writing felt overly stylised, packed with clashing metaphors and odd analogies that made it hard to follow. The plot meandered with random, often confusing moments (including one bizarre line about a vibrator that’s never mentioned again).
Character building was another struggle. I never truly got to know Sara, and the world building was bogged down by so much fluff that both plot and character fell flat. At times, I felt like Bastian in The Never Ending Story, shouting at the book to give me more.
The handling of pronouns and language also muddled things. Instead of enhancing dynamics, it often made sentences clunky and unclear. It felt like the book was trying so hard to be different, it forgot to be readable.
Overall, reading this felt like walking through a crowd of people waiting for a train, when all I wanted was to catch the bus. To quote the book itself, it was full of “ranting tangents that lose track of themselves halfway through.” That line sums it up perfectly.
Offbeat, meandering, and sadly just not for me.
September 25, 2025
Unfortunately I DNF'd at 46%
When I read the description I thought this was the book for me, horror, sapphic, apocalypse - What’s not to love? But I soon found out in the first few chapters there was a lot I didn't gel with.
This book follows Sara and her family in a post-apocalyptic world trying to survive the ‘Witches’ that keep narrowing them in. I found it hard to keep up with the story, and at times was completely lost on what was happening in the scenes. Some aspects in scenes didn’t feel thorough and it became a little flat in acknowledging secondary characters.
I wanted to push through to see how it would end but the progression felt slow with no reward and nothing seemed clear at any time for me. I love foreboding and hiding parts of a story away for a more dramatic reveal at the end but sadly it didn’t grip me enough to hold out.
Thank you to Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press and India-Rose Bower for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the description I thought this was the book for me, horror, sapphic, apocalypse - What’s not to love? But I soon found out in the first few chapters there was a lot I didn't gel with.
This book follows Sara and her family in a post-apocalyptic world trying to survive the ‘Witches’ that keep narrowing them in. I found it hard to keep up with the story, and at times was completely lost on what was happening in the scenes. Some aspects in scenes didn’t feel thorough and it became a little flat in acknowledging secondary characters.
I wanted to push through to see how it would end but the progression felt slow with no reward and nothing seemed clear at any time for me. I love foreboding and hiding parts of a story away for a more dramatic reveal at the end but sadly it didn’t grip me enough to hold out.
Thank you to Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press and India-Rose Bower for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
We Call Them Witches took me by surprise. Initially I found it a slow paced story centering on a family dynamic amidst a post apocalyptic eco horror event. I was intrigued to keep reading, to find the sapphic element of the story but soon was gripped by this exact family dynamic when the pace picks up around the halfway point. Suddenly, I couldn't put the book down and read on, devouring the end half of the book in one sleepless night.
A realisation of character, post apocalyptic eco-horror (now called cli-fi fiction/horror) with gory disturbing scenes that sometimes border on a mix between body horror and occult horror. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll appreciate the settings and visuals much as I did as it keeps the suspense of the book. With a bleak outlook, this book ends on such a note after a plot twist you can see coming but hope not to the entire time because you at least want happiness for Sara.
India-Rose Bower crafted such a tale that stuck with me, I ended up dreaming I was in this world she crafted and have been thinking about after finishing the book.
We Call Them Witches comes out April 7th 2026.
We Call Them Witches took me by surprise. Initially I found it a slow paced story centering on a family dynamic amidst a post apocalyptic eco horror event. I was intrigued to keep reading, to find the sapphic element of the story but soon was gripped by this exact family dynamic when the pace picks up around the halfway point. Suddenly, I couldn't put the book down and read on, devouring the end half of the book in one sleepless night.
A realisation of character, post apocalyptic eco-horror (now called cli-fi fiction/horror) with gory disturbing scenes that sometimes border on a mix between body horror and occult horror. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll appreciate the settings and visuals much as I did as it keeps the suspense of the book. With a bleak outlook, this book ends on such a note after a plot twist you can see coming but hope not to the entire time because you at least want happiness for Sara.
India-Rose Bower crafted such a tale that stuck with me, I ended up dreaming I was in this world she crafted and have been thinking about after finishing the book.
We Call Them Witches comes out April 7th 2026.
December 6, 2025
We Called Them Witches is a striking spin on the post-apocalyptic novel. Think Bird Box. Think A Quiet Place. Think any horror story where terror arrives out of nowhere and annihilates humanity in grotesque, unstoppable ways.
But here, the menace is stranger. These are eldritch monsters that morph into a mixture of whatever they’ve consumed and whatever is in their environment. Imagine a silently shifting mass of twigs, insect legs, moss, human parts, fox skulls, dirt—an ever-changing nightmare that refuses to give up its search for prey.
We follow Sara and her family as they endure this new world by turning to old pagan practices: wards, adder stones, protective circles that hold these creatures at bay. But their fragile safety shatters when they discover an unconscious girl lying just beyond their defenses.
Parsley can't remember how she escaped the "witches" and Sara is simply mesmirized by her. As their friendship blossoms, a horror hits home - the creatures capture her brother Noah and everyone is relying on Parsley's knowledge of the beasts in order to rescue him from their otherworldy clutches.
What unfolds is a frustratingly devious exploration of just how far we're willing to go to save our family. And what we learn is that, in the end, survival isn’t just about keeping the monsters out—it’s about facing the ones we’ve already let in.
I really liked it but I also hated how much it toyed with me lol.
But here, the menace is stranger. These are eldritch monsters that morph into a mixture of whatever they’ve consumed and whatever is in their environment. Imagine a silently shifting mass of twigs, insect legs, moss, human parts, fox skulls, dirt—an ever-changing nightmare that refuses to give up its search for prey.
We follow Sara and her family as they endure this new world by turning to old pagan practices: wards, adder stones, protective circles that hold these creatures at bay. But their fragile safety shatters when they discover an unconscious girl lying just beyond their defenses.
Parsley can't remember how she escaped the "witches" and Sara is simply mesmirized by her. As their friendship blossoms, a horror hits home - the creatures capture her brother Noah and everyone is relying on Parsley's knowledge of the beasts in order to rescue him from their otherworldy clutches.
What unfolds is a frustratingly devious exploration of just how far we're willing to go to save our family. And what we learn is that, in the end, survival isn’t just about keeping the monsters out—it’s about facing the ones we’ve already let in.
I really liked it but I also hated how much it toyed with me lol.
October 9, 2025
This was honestly one of the most interesting reads I’ve had in a while. I might be a little biased because I love post-apocalyptic content, and since there aren’t that many post-apocalyptic books out there, I was absolutely thrilled to dive into this one. The fact that it also included a queer element made it even better for me.
I really, really enjoyed this book. It was so enticing that I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. Despite being set in a post-apocalyptic world with eerie folklore elements and a dark atmosphere, it somehow managed to maintain a sort of cozy energy throughout the first half, which I really appreciated.
I thought the storyline itself was great, but I did feel like the main conflict came a bit too late, around the halfway point, and the resolution happened very quickly, almost within the last five percent of the book. It left me with quite a few unanswered questions, though I can see how that might have been intentional. In a real life apocalypse, people probably wouldn't get all the answers either, so it fits the tone of the story. Still, I feel like there’s room for a bit more, maybe a sequel or just some extra exploration of those lingering mysteries.
Overall, though, it was an incredibly engaging, atmospheric read that kept me hooked from start to finish.
I really, really enjoyed this book. It was so enticing that I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. Despite being set in a post-apocalyptic world with eerie folklore elements and a dark atmosphere, it somehow managed to maintain a sort of cozy energy throughout the first half, which I really appreciated.
I thought the storyline itself was great, but I did feel like the main conflict came a bit too late, around the halfway point, and the resolution happened very quickly, almost within the last five percent of the book. It left me with quite a few unanswered questions, though I can see how that might have been intentional. In a real life apocalypse, people probably wouldn't get all the answers either, so it fits the tone of the story. Still, I feel like there’s room for a bit more, maybe a sequel or just some extra exploration of those lingering mysteries.
Overall, though, it was an incredibly engaging, atmospheric read that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'We Call Them Witches' is a captivating and thought-provoking apocalyptic novel that kept me engaged from start to finish.
The writing is immersive and compelling, making the story flow effortlessly while maintaining a strong sense of tension.
I found the concept behind the apocalypse especially interesting and well executed, adding depth to the narrative.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and intriguing read that left a lasting impression!
The writing is immersive and compelling, making the story flow effortlessly while maintaining a strong sense of tension.
I found the concept behind the apocalypse especially interesting and well executed, adding depth to the narrative.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and intriguing read that left a lasting impression!
November 27, 2025
This was a really interesting read.
October 30, 2025
They Call Them Witches review 🫶🏼
Are you looking for a spooky and apocalyptic story? This is for you! 🤭
They Call Them Witches by India-Rose Bower is about Sara and her family. They live in a world where your nightmares might just come true because there are literal monsters. But they call them witches in the book. ✨️ Everything goes well for Sara and her family until they find a human girl in the garden. They want to help her but everything seems to go wrong since Parsley came into their lives. 👀
I loved this slow paced dystopian story. I really liked the characters and loved the queer representation here! ❤️ Sara was really likeable and also really relatable. She is a teenager in an ending world and I really feel like a real girl of her age would behave like Sara did. That was really well done!
Do you think this is your typical monster story? Nope, it really isn't. The so called witches are so interesting. 👻 There appearances are always different and trust me.. they didn't look like our stereotypical witches 😂 I wish we could hear more about where they come from. I missed a little background story there.
I felt like the book started of really good but the middle part became a little less exciting. The ending was WILD but there was happening so much at once. However, it did result in me finishing the ending in one go so that's a good sign 🎀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Are you looking for a spooky and apocalyptic story? This is for you! 🤭
They Call Them Witches by India-Rose Bower is about Sara and her family. They live in a world where your nightmares might just come true because there are literal monsters. But they call them witches in the book. ✨️ Everything goes well for Sara and her family until they find a human girl in the garden. They want to help her but everything seems to go wrong since Parsley came into their lives. 👀
I loved this slow paced dystopian story. I really liked the characters and loved the queer representation here! ❤️ Sara was really likeable and also really relatable. She is a teenager in an ending world and I really feel like a real girl of her age would behave like Sara did. That was really well done!
Do you think this is your typical monster story? Nope, it really isn't. The so called witches are so interesting. 👻 There appearances are always different and trust me.. they didn't look like our stereotypical witches 😂 I wish we could hear more about where they come from. I missed a little background story there.
I felt like the book started of really good but the middle part became a little less exciting. The ending was WILD but there was happening so much at once. However, it did result in me finishing the ending in one go so that's a good sign 🎀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In a post-apocalyptic Britain most of humanity has been wiped out by creatures they call witches. Sara and her family survive by using old folklore and pagan wards to keep the creatures at bay. Till a young girl called Parsley joins them noone knows where she came from Sara feels drawn to her but can she be trusted.
Whatever you think this book will be you're probably wrong ! This book has monsters, folklore, apocalyptic world, sapphic romance with atmospheric horror vibes. I loved this book and read it pretty much in one sitting. I did really enjoy it but I would have liked more from the creatures and more about the past of the characters this book could have been longer with more backstory but still a worthwhile read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Joseph and India Rose Bower for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Whatever you think this book will be you're probably wrong ! This book has monsters, folklore, apocalyptic world, sapphic romance with atmospheric horror vibes. I loved this book and read it pretty much in one sitting. I did really enjoy it but I would have liked more from the creatures and more about the past of the characters this book could have been longer with more backstory but still a worthwhile read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Joseph and India Rose Bower for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I went in thinking this has Last Of Us vibes but unfortunately it fell flat in that aspect for me. BUT. I did enjoy reading this, I felt a little confused in some parts but I think I was just a bit overwhelmed by what was going on and found it hard to follow along. I enjoyed the superstitions from old folklore keeping the witches at bay and I really enjoyed the mansion part of the story. I was shocked in a couple parts too. Overall I was intrigued throughout and needed to know how it would end.
This is the @illumicrate #evernight subscription edition. Beautiful hardcover and artwork as always 😍
This is the @illumicrate #evernight subscription edition. Beautiful hardcover and artwork as always 😍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The atmosphere is fantastic - overwhelmingly bleak and dangerous. The witches are unsettling and there's a strong sense of unease that never lets up. Still, the book takes the time to focus on relationships and survival; Sara's a solid, believable protagonist, and her relationships, especially outside her family, were some of my favourite parts.
The pacing wasn’t always perfect for me. Some parts dragged a little, and the ending felt like it wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly. I also would’ve loved more background on the witches and how the world ended up this way, because the folklore-inspired horror concept is really, really interesting.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
The pacing wasn’t always perfect for me. Some parts dragged a little, and the ending felt like it wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly. I also would’ve loved more background on the witches and how the world ended up this way, because the folklore-inspired horror concept is really, really interesting.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
January 24, 2026
A darkly gothic distopian book. This book was so atmospheric and disturbing, the mysterious terrors of the witches made the book feel sinister and creepy. I really enjoyed all the folklore and pagan rituals incorporated into the book. Whilst I enjoyed the read I would have liked more world building and to understand how everything came about.
September 29, 2025
A post apocalypse, sapphic, creepy read 🧙
I really enjoyed this! I love watching apocalyptic themes on tv, but this was my first time reading anything of this genre and it didn’t disappoint!
Such vidid descriptions, really fast paced writing and a plot steeped in folklore.
I am so grateful for being approved to read this ARC via @NetGalley
This is released on April 7th 2026- save the date! 🙏🏼
I really enjoyed this! I love watching apocalyptic themes on tv, but this was my first time reading anything of this genre and it didn’t disappoint!
Such vidid descriptions, really fast paced writing and a plot steeped in folklore.
I am so grateful for being approved to read this ARC via @NetGalley
This is released on April 7th 2026- save the date! 🙏🏼
November 9, 2025
I absolutely flew through this one. Sapphic eldritch folk horror? Those are some of my favourite things! Highly recommend if any of those things also appeal to you. I hope they turn this one into a movie with practical effects, that would look sick af.
August 24, 2025
The concept of a post apocalyptic world with folklore woven through was appealing to me and I looked forward to exploring this would through one family. Unfortunately, the characters didn’t feel developed to me and I did not find myself invested in the plot as a result. (Via NetGalley)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When the eldritch creatures that have come to be called witches came, most people were devoured. But Sara and her family, with her mother's knowledge of pagan wards, are still fighting for survival. A young woman named Parsley shows up in their garden, and soon after, Sara's younger brother Noah is taken by the creatures. Now, trying to find her brother, Sara will have to decide whether she can trust not only her growing feelings for Parsley, but also Parsley herself.
Looking at reviews of this one, I think I might be in the minority, but I actually really enjoyed this one. You get to see enough of the "witches" to really get a feel for how frightening they truly are, and Sara's dedication to helping and protecting her family was everything.
I loved that Sara as a person felt real and relatable. When she meets Parsley, she's the first person outside of her family she's had any real contact or connection with in a long time. It felt natural that she would give in to the attraction she feels, even when her family is telling her not to immediately trust Parsley. But despite her feelings, her family ultimately still takes precedence.
The prose did take me a minute to get into, but ultimately, I felt like Bower's writing style worked really well since you're getting the entire story from the POV of a teenage girl during events that are new and terrifying. There were, however, some weird analogies thrown in sometimes that did feel a bit out of place.
Read if you like:
Eldritch horror
Post-apocalyptic
Strong family bonds
LGBTQ+ rep
Sapphic romance
Single POV
When the eldritch creatures that have come to be called witches came, most people were devoured. But Sara and her family, with her mother's knowledge of pagan wards, are still fighting for survival. A young woman named Parsley shows up in their garden, and soon after, Sara's younger brother Noah is taken by the creatures. Now, trying to find her brother, Sara will have to decide whether she can trust not only her growing feelings for Parsley, but also Parsley herself.
Looking at reviews of this one, I think I might be in the minority, but I actually really enjoyed this one. You get to see enough of the "witches" to really get a feel for how frightening they truly are, and Sara's dedication to helping and protecting her family was everything.
I loved that Sara as a person felt real and relatable. When she meets Parsley, she's the first person outside of her family she's had any real contact or connection with in a long time. It felt natural that she would give in to the attraction she feels, even when her family is telling her not to immediately trust Parsley. But despite her feelings, her family ultimately still takes precedence.
The prose did take me a minute to get into, but ultimately, I felt like Bower's writing style worked really well since you're getting the entire story from the POV of a teenage girl during events that are new and terrifying. There were, however, some weird analogies thrown in sometimes that did feel a bit out of place.
Read if you like:
Eldritch horror
Post-apocalyptic
Strong family bonds
LGBTQ+ rep
Sapphic romance
Single POV
January 25, 2026
We Call Them Witches by India-Rose Bower
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
4/100
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for an ARC of this book <3
My attempt to read 100 books this year has started off…not so well. I have read some books that were just shockingly average and also bad at many points. However, I can say with confidence that even though I am giving We Call Them Witches a 3.5 Star Rating, this book is still the best I’ve read so far this year. I have a lot of thoughts about this so I will try to break it down!! Let me tell you though, the good outweighs the bad.
What I loved about this story was the unique twist on the apocalypse. So many times I have seen the same apocalypse reasons repeated again and again, from nuclear war to zombies, but what India-Rose Bower has written with this novel is truly and grotesquely wonderful. I love the idea of the ‘witches’ being this terrifying beasts, it subverted all of my expectations for this book. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the characters. There is some fantastic representation in this novel with non-binary character Danny and the main couple being both women. We Call Them Witches is a story that has a lot of heart and some really shocking twists! There is one in particular that had me completely baffled and made me rethink my life choices.
Now I will, regretfully, discuss the weaker elements of this story. However, there aren’t very many! I think that the pacing is something I struggled with when reading this. It takes a while to get into the plot and the action, and then a lot of the time there isn’t much happening. Whilst there are high stakes, at times I didn’t feel the threat they were under. I’m struggling to explain it but I just think there needed to be some changes with the pacing/editing. Also, the ending was so sudden! I’m sure this means there will be a sequel of some kind, which I hope there is because I enjoyed immersing myself into this world, but come on. It ended just like that!!! You can’t do that to me!!!
Overall though, I would really recommend buying this book when it comes out. It’s creepy, it’s got style, the writing is fantastic, and the story is a lot of fun in a horrific way. This was the book I needed this year to get me back into reading consistently.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
4/100
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for an ARC of this book <3
My attempt to read 100 books this year has started off…not so well. I have read some books that were just shockingly average and also bad at many points. However, I can say with confidence that even though I am giving We Call Them Witches a 3.5 Star Rating, this book is still the best I’ve read so far this year. I have a lot of thoughts about this so I will try to break it down!! Let me tell you though, the good outweighs the bad.
What I loved about this story was the unique twist on the apocalypse. So many times I have seen the same apocalypse reasons repeated again and again, from nuclear war to zombies, but what India-Rose Bower has written with this novel is truly and grotesquely wonderful. I love the idea of the ‘witches’ being this terrifying beasts, it subverted all of my expectations for this book. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the characters. There is some fantastic representation in this novel with non-binary character Danny and the main couple being both women. We Call Them Witches is a story that has a lot of heart and some really shocking twists! There is one in particular that had me completely baffled and made me rethink my life choices.
Now I will, regretfully, discuss the weaker elements of this story. However, there aren’t very many! I think that the pacing is something I struggled with when reading this. It takes a while to get into the plot and the action, and then a lot of the time there isn’t much happening. Whilst there are high stakes, at times I didn’t feel the threat they were under. I’m struggling to explain it but I just think there needed to be some changes with the pacing/editing. Also, the ending was so sudden! I’m sure this means there will be a sequel of some kind, which I hope there is because I enjoyed immersing myself into this world, but come on. It ended just like that!!! You can’t do that to me!!!
Overall though, I would really recommend buying this book when it comes out. It’s creepy, it’s got style, the writing is fantastic, and the story is a lot of fun in a horrific way. This was the book I needed this year to get me back into reading consistently.
February 2, 2026
This was a quick, atmospheric read that seriously let me down on a number of fronts.
I found the world building to be shallow, the characters felt flat and lacked substance, the twists obvious to the point I wondered if our main FMC was an idiot, the monsters were confusing in regards to what they were, their motivations and abilities. Ma's character made no sense - why would she lack any type of maternal instinct in this crisis? What was her background to have knowledge on how to protect oneself against mythical monsters? Why would anyone call these creatures witches in the modern age, especially young women who would be educated enough to understand how the lable of witch was used to persecute women and exact cruel misognistic torture and punishment on outsiders? These were definitely Eldrtich style creatures so it really made no sense. There was some attempt to connect the crisis to climate change but it was so lightloy done it felt as if the author themselves was unsure about the credibility of this plotpoint.
It's a shame because there was potential - the descriptions of these things were genuinely horrifying, the ecounters tense and stressful, the atmosphere at home cosey etc but the execution really let it down. Shame shame shame because my Everynight copy is so pretty.
I found the world building to be shallow, the characters felt flat and lacked substance, the twists obvious to the point I wondered if our main FMC was an idiot, the monsters were confusing in regards to what they were, their motivations and abilities. Ma's character made no sense - why would she lack any type of maternal instinct in this crisis? What was her background to have knowledge on how to protect oneself against mythical monsters? Why would anyone call these creatures witches in the modern age, especially young women who would be educated enough to understand how the lable of witch was used to persecute women and exact cruel misognistic torture and punishment on outsiders? These were definitely Eldrtich style creatures so it really made no sense. There was some attempt to connect the crisis to climate change but it was so lightloy done it felt as if the author themselves was unsure about the credibility of this plotpoint.
It's a shame because there was potential - the descriptions of these things were genuinely horrifying, the ecounters tense and stressful, the atmosphere at home cosey etc but the execution really let it down. Shame shame shame because my Everynight copy is so pretty.
January 21, 2026
this book pulls you straight into a post apocalyptic Britain where most of humanity has already been wiped out by otherworldly creatures. Sara and her family survive by clinging to old folklore and pagan rituals the only things that seem to keep the monsters at bay. It’s bleak, eerie, and instantly immersive.Then Parsley appears. Literally out of nowhere. Found in Sara’s garden with no memory or explanation, she becomes both a mystery and a lifeline. As Sara and Parsley fall in love the story takes on this deeply emotional sapphic core that balances the horror perfectly. And just when you think things can’t get worse, Sara’s brother Noah is taken by the creatures, forcing them into a brutal journey across a landscape haunted by death, loss, and the constant question of who or what can be trusted.I loved everything about this book. I saw someone describe it as The Blair Witch Project meets A Quiet Place, and That comparison is spot on. Add in occult themes and a sapphic love story, and it was basically written for me.The ending was absolutely amazing dark, satisfying, and unforgettable. By the time I finished, I just sat there like wow. This was a wild ride from start to finish, and I already know I need a physical copy on my shelf as soon as possible.If you love dark folklore, post apocalyptic horror, and queer stories. We Call Them Witches is a must read.comes out April 7th thank you netgalley for an early arc. All reviews are my own.
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