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Goddesses of the Underworld #1
Hekate - The Witch
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi (2025)A propulsive, electrifying and enraging retelling of the life of Greek goddess Hekate, child of war turned all-powerful goddess of witchcraft and necromancy, by internationally bestselling poet Nikita Gill.
Born into a world on fire, Godling Hekate has never known safety. After her parents are on the losing side of the war between the ruling Titans and new Olympian Gods, Hekate is taken by her mother Asteria to the Underworld, where Styx and Hades agree to raise her. Meanwhile, Asteria is pursued across the world by Zeus and Poseidon and, to escape their clutches, transforms herself into an island in a stormy sea.
Orphaned and alone, Hekate grows up amongst the horrors and beauties of the Underworld, desperate to find her divine purpose and a sense of belonging in the land of the dead.
When Hekate finally uncovers her powers and ascends to Goddess status, she realises that even the most powerful Olympians are terrified of her. But when immortal war breaks out again, threatening to destroy everything from Mount Olympus to the Underworld itself, the Goddess of witchcraft and necromancy is the only one who can bring the deadly conflict to an end. . .
Born into a world on fire, Godling Hekate has never known safety. After her parents are on the losing side of the war between the ruling Titans and new Olympian Gods, Hekate is taken by her mother Asteria to the Underworld, where Styx and Hades agree to raise her. Meanwhile, Asteria is pursued across the world by Zeus and Poseidon and, to escape their clutches, transforms herself into an island in a stormy sea.
Orphaned and alone, Hekate grows up amongst the horrors and beauties of the Underworld, desperate to find her divine purpose and a sense of belonging in the land of the dead.
When Hekate finally uncovers her powers and ascends to Goddess status, she realises that even the most powerful Olympians are terrified of her. But when immortal war breaks out again, threatening to destroy everything from Mount Olympus to the Underworld itself, the Goddess of witchcraft and necromancy is the only one who can bring the deadly conflict to an end. . .
400 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2025
955 people are currently reading
56014 people want to read
About the author
Nikita Gill
28 books5,816 followersNikita Gill is a Kashmiri Sikh writer born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and brought up in Gurugram, Haryana in India. In her mid twenties, she immigrated to the South of England and worked as a carer for many years. She enjoys creating paintings, poems, stories, photos, illustrations and other soft, positive things. Her work has appeared in Literary Orphans, Agave Magazine, Gravel Literary Journal, Monkeybicycle, Foliate Oak, MusePiePress, Dying Dahlia Review, The Rising Phoenix Review, Eunoia Review, Corvus Review, After The Pause and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,266 reviews
January 14, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for an ARC of this book!!
This might be a 6 🌟 or ♾️ 🌟 book. I'll have to come back and update. Those typically depend on how the whole book ferments throughout the days once I've finished it.
This was not a normal book for me. As someone who has studied witchcraft for the better part of a decade Hekate has been someone very near & dear to my heart for a long time. I knew going in that I was gambling. I was either going to love it or hate it. And let's just say I feel as if now would be a great time to purchase a lottery ticket.
I've said this before and I will say it till my last breath. I do not understand people who will not read books simply because they're "young adult".. Are y'all ok? Would you like a hug? Who hurt you? .. And again, as I've said before. It's not a favorite genre of mine, and it's not one I read too often. But I just personal couldn't imagine missing out on amazing experiences such as this , because I judged it off the genre label.
I loved this so much & I sobbed through half of this. I personally have never read a book like this. It reads like a book, but is actually made up of poems. It was one of the most original & beautiful experiences I've ever had while reading.
This book is really for everyone. It's an AMAZING learning tool for those who are interested in learning about her. And for us OG Hekate fans, it's so refreshing to finally see her getting the time to shine she so greatly deserves.
If Hekate was in charge of telling her own story this is the book we'd all get. Hell, it reads as if it's coming from her personally.
Needless to say I will be purchasing a hard copy and recommending this with my full chest!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
This might be a 6 🌟 or ♾️ 🌟 book. I'll have to come back and update. Those typically depend on how the whole book ferments throughout the days once I've finished it.
This was not a normal book for me. As someone who has studied witchcraft for the better part of a decade Hekate has been someone very near & dear to my heart for a long time. I knew going in that I was gambling. I was either going to love it or hate it. And let's just say I feel as if now would be a great time to purchase a lottery ticket.
I've said this before and I will say it till my last breath. I do not understand people who will not read books simply because they're "young adult".. Are y'all ok? Would you like a hug? Who hurt you? .. And again, as I've said before. It's not a favorite genre of mine, and it's not one I read too often. But I just personal couldn't imagine missing out on amazing experiences such as this , because I judged it off the genre label.
I loved this so much & I sobbed through half of this. I personally have never read a book like this. It reads like a book, but is actually made up of poems. It was one of the most original & beautiful experiences I've ever had while reading.
This book is really for everyone. It's an AMAZING learning tool for those who are interested in learning about her. And for us OG Hekate fans, it's so refreshing to finally see her getting the time to shine she so greatly deserves.
If Hekate was in charge of telling her own story this is the book we'd all get. Hell, it reads as if it's coming from her personally.
Needless to say I will be purchasing a hard copy and recommending this with my full chest!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
October 17, 2025
I needed a book to go along with my ongoing and very time-consuming Hades II obsession and this really fit perfectly. I love everything Greek mythology, especially chthonic gods and goddesses, and novels written in verse have never disappointed me before. But I do have to say that Nikita Gill's writing was not as impactful to me as I'm used to from similar books. The story was very fast paced and it was just a bit hard to really care about the characters. I still liked to read about Hekate's journey from a child of war to a traveler of the underworld to a powerful witch goddess sure of her domain. This was more of a 3.5 star read for me, but I'm sure that I'm gonna pick up book two as well. The series is titled Goddesses of the Underworld and I literally cannot wait to see who is up next.
September 8, 2025
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 1.75 stars ⊹ ࣪ ˖
A big thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: September 16th, 2025
Unfortunately, not my cup of tea 🙁
This book is written almost entirely in verse (there are some sections written as full paragraphs) and I fear I was not able to connect with Hekate or the plot very well because of that. I know now that the author is well known for her poetry so fans of hers most likely will enjoy this book and the writing style, but this was my first read of hers and it was not my taste.
I tend to go 50/50 on books written in verse - sometimes that choice adds to the plot and feel, and sometimes it hinders it. This time, it hindered it. It reads more as a rewrite of Hekate's story instead of a retelling that expands on her backstory (as it was advertised).
I also have a problem with poetry that is literally just a full paragraph randomly split into different lines. If there's no intention behind the lines chosen for each verse, then it's just a paragraph with awkward formatting.
That being said, the writing was beautiful. I can tell that Nikita Gill holds Hekate very dear to her heart and wanted to give her a much deserved moment in the spotlight.
⤷ This low rating is based on my enjoyment and not quality, so if this seems up your alley, I recommend you give it a try!
A big thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: September 16th, 2025
Unfortunately, not my cup of tea 🙁
This book is written almost entirely in verse (there are some sections written as full paragraphs) and I fear I was not able to connect with Hekate or the plot very well because of that. I know now that the author is well known for her poetry so fans of hers most likely will enjoy this book and the writing style, but this was my first read of hers and it was not my taste.
I tend to go 50/50 on books written in verse - sometimes that choice adds to the plot and feel, and sometimes it hinders it. This time, it hindered it. It reads more as a rewrite of Hekate's story instead of a retelling that expands on her backstory (as it was advertised).
I also have a problem with poetry that is literally just a full paragraph randomly split into different lines. If there's no intention behind the lines chosen for each verse, then it's just a paragraph with awkward formatting.
That being said, the writing was beautiful. I can tell that Nikita Gill holds Hekate very dear to her heart and wanted to give her a much deserved moment in the spotlight.
⤷ This low rating is based on my enjoyment and not quality, so if this seems up your alley, I recommend you give it a try!
September 24, 2025
a novel in verse for such a fascinating mythological character was the perfect choice!! 4 stars
September 17, 2025
4.8⭐️
🖤Greek mythology retelling
🖤Written in poem form (verse)
🖤Female Rage and Empowerment
🖤A sprinkle of politics, romance, and Greek mythology
🖤Dark, inspiring, and thought provoking
(Spoiler-free, as always!)
Okay, I loved this. I loved loved loved this. I have never read something this long in verse before and I absolutely enjoyed that. Also as someone who has studied witchcraft AND Greek mythology, this was such a delicious, satisfying, soul quenching experience. I was nervous initially as someone who does know a lot about the gods and goddesses described in this book- however the author did an incredible job weaving them into what is almost a backstory? While utilizing accurate mythological resources? It was so creative, I finished it in less than 24 hours, and I loved it. Maybe my little goblin witchy heart just found this to be so agreeable but regardless, an incredible read.
Thank you to the author Nikita Gill, to Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.
🖤Greek mythology retelling
🖤Written in poem form (verse)
🖤Female Rage and Empowerment
🖤A sprinkle of politics, romance, and Greek mythology
🖤Dark, inspiring, and thought provoking
(Spoiler-free, as always!)
Okay, I loved this. I loved loved loved this. I have never read something this long in verse before and I absolutely enjoyed that. Also as someone who has studied witchcraft AND Greek mythology, this was such a delicious, satisfying, soul quenching experience. I was nervous initially as someone who does know a lot about the gods and goddesses described in this book- however the author did an incredible job weaving them into what is almost a backstory? While utilizing accurate mythological resources? It was so creative, I finished it in less than 24 hours, and I loved it. Maybe my little goblin witchy heart just found this to be so agreeable but regardless, an incredible read.
Thank you to the author Nikita Gill, to Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.
Read
September 24, 2025DNF. I'm sorry I totally did not read where this book is written in verse. I can't get with that so it's all on me.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
November 26, 2025
a perfect mix of poetry and standard novel format
August 25, 2025
“Perhaps this was what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power if pushed."
🗝 Greek mythology retelling
🗝 Novel in verse
🗝 Female empowerment
🗝 By award winning poet Nikita Gill
Nikita Gill has outdone herself! Hekate is sublimely crafted with beautiful language and verse. I now have a new favourite Greek mythology retelling (and you know the competition is fierce.) Hekate is up there as one of my top reads of the year.
Hekate is a unique take and storyline. We join young Hekate at the end of the Titanomachy (war between the Titans and Olympians). She's a child of war, fleeing for her life; a refugee. Gill's poignant words really make you contemplate the reality of children facing this today.
Hekate becomes a child of the underworld. I loved her exploration of the mysterious different realms within. Hekate, Thanatos and Charon became firm favourites for me. The crescendo is the empowerment of Hekate coming into her own. And she's not alone - I loved Kore's rising moment.
We also explore the cruelty, brutality, and misogyny of the gods, not only to mortals, but their own family; both Titans and Olympians. The fear of those in power runs deep. Mothers and daughters and their love is a powerful, heart-rending theme. Bringing everything together is transformation, and Hekate undergoes some pivotal, defining moments.
I would love to find out more from Nikita Gill about her inspiration for Hekate and how much was creation. I'd love to see more writings from her about Hekate and Thanatos, and a story focusing on Kore too. Let's face it, I will be thrilled to read anything Gill ever writes!
🗝 Greek mythology retelling
🗝 Novel in verse
🗝 Female empowerment
🗝 By award winning poet Nikita Gill
Nikita Gill has outdone herself! Hekate is sublimely crafted with beautiful language and verse. I now have a new favourite Greek mythology retelling (and you know the competition is fierce.) Hekate is up there as one of my top reads of the year.
Hekate is a unique take and storyline. We join young Hekate at the end of the Titanomachy (war between the Titans and Olympians). She's a child of war, fleeing for her life; a refugee. Gill's poignant words really make you contemplate the reality of children facing this today.
Hekate becomes a child of the underworld. I loved her exploration of the mysterious different realms within. Hekate, Thanatos and Charon became firm favourites for me. The crescendo is the empowerment of Hekate coming into her own. And she's not alone - I loved Kore's rising moment.
We also explore the cruelty, brutality, and misogyny of the gods, not only to mortals, but their own family; both Titans and Olympians. The fear of those in power runs deep. Mothers and daughters and their love is a powerful, heart-rending theme. Bringing everything together is transformation, and Hekate undergoes some pivotal, defining moments.
I would love to find out more from Nikita Gill about her inspiration for Hekate and how much was creation. I'd love to see more writings from her about Hekate and Thanatos, and a story focusing on Kore too. Let's face it, I will be thrilled to read anything Gill ever writes!
August 14, 2025
I think if you like the author and you like poetry then you'll love this. I personally don't see how poetry added to the telling of this tale at all - the prose parts were my favourite, and the poetry doesn't read as well as the authors' standalone verses (at least the ones I'd briefly seen on her instagram). Maybe the fact that I'm not big on poetry means this isn't really for me, but as a classics student who has studied the epics, I was expecting something more like that (especially as many people said it reads like an epic poem. it doesn't). The actual story outside of the poetry aspect was fine, nothing crazy, I was expecting a bit more. I didn't really get any excitement from dramatic moments because I felt like the verse was just getting in the way. It didnt feel particularly lyrical at times, just sentences
put on different lines
randomly. for
'poetic effect'.
Honestly I thought poetry was full of depth and emotion and descriptive language based on what I've read before but this wasn't any of that for me. But I see its found its crowd and I'm glad people are enjoying reading about mythology! I did like the occasional stylistic breaks with the prose and the list-y chunks, just the majority of the verse wasn't really for me.
put on different lines
randomly. for
'poetic effect'.
Honestly I thought poetry was full of depth and emotion and descriptive language based on what I've read before but this wasn't any of that for me. But I see its found its crowd and I'm glad people are enjoying reading about mythology! I did like the occasional stylistic breaks with the prose and the list-y chunks, just the majority of the verse wasn't really for me.
September 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Myth, magic, and the untold voice of a goddess
I had the pleasure of listening to an arc audiobook copy of Hekate the Witch by Nikita Gill—and it was a great read (or rather, listen). As a lover of all things mythology, this book was right up my alley.
Gill brings Hekate to life with stunning, lyrical prose. The goddess who can raise the dead and command legions finally has a voice—and it's powerful, aching, and unforgettable. Her story, like so many women in myth, is one of love lost, betrayal, war, and ultimately, redemption. The backdrop of war between Olympians and older gods adds depth and tension throughout, reminding us that in mythology, the gods always seem to have the upper hand.
The audiobook narration added another layer of intensity to Hekate’s journey—it felt almost ritualistic, like being invited into a sacred space.
Highly recommend for fans of mythological retellings, feminist narratives, and poetic storytelling.
I had the pleasure of listening to an arc audiobook copy of Hekate the Witch by Nikita Gill—and it was a great read (or rather, listen). As a lover of all things mythology, this book was right up my alley.
Gill brings Hekate to life with stunning, lyrical prose. The goddess who can raise the dead and command legions finally has a voice—and it's powerful, aching, and unforgettable. Her story, like so many women in myth, is one of love lost, betrayal, war, and ultimately, redemption. The backdrop of war between Olympians and older gods adds depth and tension throughout, reminding us that in mythology, the gods always seem to have the upper hand.
The audiobook narration added another layer of intensity to Hekate’s journey—it felt almost ritualistic, like being invited into a sacred space.
Highly recommend for fans of mythological retellings, feminist narratives, and poetic storytelling.
September 22, 2025
such an interesting read
September 25, 2025
I feel bad, because 'Hekate: The Witch' is an epic, atmospheric, gripping, thrilling, engrossing, and at times beautiful, insightful and important poetry read, and I wanted to love it, because Hekate/Hecate is one of my favourite deities, and I loved Nikita Gill's 'The Girl and the Goddess: Stories and Poems of Divine Wisdom', 'Fierce Fairytales: & Other Stories to Stir Your Soul', and 'Great Goddesses: Life Lessons from Myths and Monsters'.
Sadly, I have to be honest and say 'Hekate: The Witch' ended up being one of my biggest three-star disappointments of 2025.
Because despite the powerful, passionate writing, and the female empowerment and journey, at the end of it all it is a rather standard, conventional story, and it is shockingly, highly heteronormative, with an unnecessary romance it really could have done without. For a Geek mythology retelling in 2025, this is inexcusable and unforgivable.
I will try not to spoil much, but near the end, there is a, *ahem*, gigantic battle, where a god gets hurt and bleeds, and this angers Hekate enough to go full god mode and ultimately win the day, even though gods are immortal and no one is in danger of dying (this is a problem in a lot of books about gods and goddesses, and not only in Greek mythology, in fact, where there are no stakes, nor meaningful losses, or any losses). It's made a big deal because how dare anyone - any creature - make a god bleed! It's the winning turning point of the battle and war! It's laughable. And elitist, which runs counter to one of 'Hekate''s messages, about the arrogance and warmongering of power-hungry and paranoid gods, who are their own worst enemy, yet think they are superior to the lowly mortals whose lives they destroy for fun.
For a book titled 'Hekate: The Witch', very little is in it about Hekate's witchcraft. She collects herbs and makes potions with almost no fanfare, and that's it. No rituals, no going over the potion making process, no insight, no detail, nothing on how she learns her craft and develops into her magic. She barely casts any spells, and she can collect stars from the night sky in order to revive the dead, with no explanation as to how she achieves that.
Even her necromancy is downplayed, as is her ability to split herself into three - representing the Triple Goddess; the maiden, the mother, and the crone. This amazing power only happens a few times, and it's treated like nothing, and over far too quickly. What does the unique power mean to Hekate? What does having two other versions of herself mean to her? I have no idea. It means nothing. It symbolises nothing.
I... I... what?!
She meets the Fates themselves, for fuck's sake! She should mirror them, and be a pupil, a ward, a sister, a daughter, or a threat to them, but nothing of the kind is ever acknowledged! The Fates are pointless! A pointless presence!
Oh, and apparently Hekate can fly - she 'had learned a spell for flight over my years of witchcraft' (page 376), none of which we ever see - and she doesn't use it until like, the last eight pages when the climactic war is already over and it is the least needed. Don't look at me, I just work here.
Hekate might be a witch, but she could be any goddess. Her witchcraft isn't treated as anything special. Her torch lighting is utilised and revered more than her spellcasting. Her necromancy, which is the chips-are-down reason why all other gods fear her, including Zeus, is at the end brushed away with a shrug, like the rest of her powers. She could be any deity (further emphasised by how she needs help from male gods constantly), based on what 'Hekate: The Witch' reveals, when it is supposed to be a retelling of her origins, her coming-of-age story, and her power reclaimant.
Other details are forgotten about or tossed aside, such as Hermes - one of the "good" gods here - turning Cadmus and Harmonia into a single snake staff, and this is never brought up again. Ever. And Hekate has her silver hound, gifted in one of the book's most memorable and powerful scenes, but her owls are only mentioned once. Once. The cover lies.
I can't even remember if the moon receives a passing mention. I don't think it ever makes an appearance. It isn't factored into anything. Hekate is in the Underworld for 80% of the book, but according to ancient mythology, it is a major part of her identity as a predominant triple moon goddess, associated with the night and magic, and lunar phases and cycles are a big part of witchcraft in any culture. A full moon is on the bloody cover, for goddesses' sake.
Goddessdamn it! The cover lies!
I felt empowered and riveted in anticipation whilst reading 'Hekate: The Witch', but by the final few pages, that excitement petered out, and I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. It is largely the lack of explained magic and the unessential hetero, dependable and dull romance that is at fault.
The modern poetic retelling tome is still good, and compared to my other three-star disappointments this year, it is perhaps the best. However, it is a disappointment nonetheless. What it gets right makes what it gets wrong stand out all the more in bafflement and bewilderment. No bewitchment.
It is about a Hekate who is very powerful, and determined, fierce, and feared by the Greek gods and Titans, and is a saviour for women. Contradictorily, she is male dependent, and constantly needs rescue, aid, reliance, information, wisdom, observation, motivation and reassurance by men--gods, who are her prevalent superiors, companions, acquaintances, and present loved ones. She is like a helpless, confused child who is in way over her head whenever she is with them. She falls in love with a god, who I won't bother to name in my review, because he's hot. How original.
I cannot stress enough how unnecessary and out of left field Hekate's love life is to her story. It's like 2000s-2010s YA.
This is not the Hekate/Hecate I know and admire.
She is surprisingly faltering in her revenge against the gods, as well, considering everything, and in the first half of the book it is suggested she might be prone to vengeance, as one of her motivators (her primary goal is finding her purpose as a god), but it is yet another detail forgotten about later on.
'Hekate: The Witch' - where her title and purpose as the "Goddess of Witchcraft and Necromancy" falls incredibly short in comparison to doting on the male gods in her life.
I reiterate, plainly: when it comes to Hekate's witchcraft, show don't tell!
At least it is a thrilling, epic, educational exploration of Greek mythology and the deities throughout the ages. The Titan war, Hekate's parents Asteria and Perses, Kronos, Styx, Nyx, Gaia, Mnemosyne, Kore, Demeter, Queen Hecuba, Odysseus, every inhabitant of Hades/the Underworld, and so many others, are namedropped, and play important roles in how they relate to Hekate.
Motherhood, grief and bereavement are vital themes, handled quite well and consistently.
I like that it is pointed out how the very concept of womanhood is seen as a threat to the patriarchy, and that's why it has been demonised, shamed, mocked, beaten and treated with violence for centuries, if not millennia.
'I was starting to feel as though my entire existence was a threat. Perhaps this was what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power if pushed.' (page 277)
Feminism: depressingly relevant and needed in 2025.
I am sorry. No offense is meant by my middling-to-negative opinions and comments in my review of 'Hekate: The Witch'. I have positively no doubt Nikita Gill worked exceedingly hard in researching for and writing this poetry and narrative power ballad. I just think it could have been better. It should have been better.
Final Score: 3/5
Sadly, I have to be honest and say 'Hekate: The Witch' ended up being one of my biggest three-star disappointments of 2025.
Because despite the powerful, passionate writing, and the female empowerment and journey, at the end of it all it is a rather standard, conventional story, and it is shockingly, highly heteronormative, with an unnecessary romance it really could have done without. For a Geek mythology retelling in 2025, this is inexcusable and unforgivable.
I will try not to spoil much, but near the end, there is a, *ahem*, gigantic battle, where a god gets hurt and bleeds, and this angers Hekate enough to go full god mode and ultimately win the day, even though gods are immortal and no one is in danger of dying (this is a problem in a lot of books about gods and goddesses, and not only in Greek mythology, in fact, where there are no stakes, nor meaningful losses, or any losses). It's made a big deal because how dare anyone - any creature - make a god bleed! It's the winning turning point of the battle and war! It's laughable. And elitist, which runs counter to one of 'Hekate''s messages, about the arrogance and warmongering of power-hungry and paranoid gods, who are their own worst enemy, yet think they are superior to the lowly mortals whose lives they destroy for fun.
For a book titled 'Hekate: The Witch', very little is in it about Hekate's witchcraft. She collects herbs and makes potions with almost no fanfare, and that's it. No rituals, no going over the potion making process, no insight, no detail, nothing on how she learns her craft and develops into her magic. She barely casts any spells, and she can collect stars from the night sky in order to revive the dead, with no explanation as to how she achieves that.
Even her necromancy is downplayed, as is her ability to split herself into three - representing the Triple Goddess; the maiden, the mother, and the crone. This amazing power only happens a few times, and it's treated like nothing, and over far too quickly. What does the unique power mean to Hekate? What does having two other versions of herself mean to her? I have no idea. It means nothing. It symbolises nothing.
I... I... what?!
She meets the Fates themselves, for fuck's sake! She should mirror them, and be a pupil, a ward, a sister, a daughter, or a threat to them, but nothing of the kind is ever acknowledged! The Fates are pointless! A pointless presence!
Oh, and apparently Hekate can fly - she 'had learned a spell for flight over my years of witchcraft' (page 376), none of which we ever see - and she doesn't use it until like, the last eight pages when the climactic war is already over and it is the least needed. Don't look at me, I just work here.
Hekate might be a witch, but she could be any goddess. Her witchcraft isn't treated as anything special. Her torch lighting is utilised and revered more than her spellcasting. Her necromancy, which is the chips-are-down reason why all other gods fear her, including Zeus, is at the end brushed away with a shrug, like the rest of her powers. She could be any deity (further emphasised by how she needs help from male gods constantly), based on what 'Hekate: The Witch' reveals, when it is supposed to be a retelling of her origins, her coming-of-age story, and her power reclaimant.
Other details are forgotten about or tossed aside, such as Hermes - one of the "good" gods here - turning Cadmus and Harmonia into a single snake staff, and this is never brought up again. Ever. And Hekate has her silver hound, gifted in one of the book's most memorable and powerful scenes, but her owls are only mentioned once. Once. The cover lies.
I can't even remember if the moon receives a passing mention. I don't think it ever makes an appearance. It isn't factored into anything. Hekate is in the Underworld for 80% of the book, but according to ancient mythology, it is a major part of her identity as a predominant triple moon goddess, associated with the night and magic, and lunar phases and cycles are a big part of witchcraft in any culture. A full moon is on the bloody cover, for goddesses' sake.
Goddessdamn it! The cover lies!
I felt empowered and riveted in anticipation whilst reading 'Hekate: The Witch', but by the final few pages, that excitement petered out, and I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. It is largely the lack of explained magic and the unessential hetero, dependable and dull romance that is at fault.
The modern poetic retelling tome is still good, and compared to my other three-star disappointments this year, it is perhaps the best. However, it is a disappointment nonetheless. What it gets right makes what it gets wrong stand out all the more in bafflement and bewilderment. No bewitchment.
It is about a Hekate who is very powerful, and determined, fierce, and feared by the Greek gods and Titans, and is a saviour for women. Contradictorily, she is male dependent, and constantly needs rescue, aid, reliance, information, wisdom, observation, motivation and reassurance by men--gods, who are her prevalent superiors, companions, acquaintances, and present loved ones. She is like a helpless, confused child who is in way over her head whenever she is with them. She falls in love with a god, who I won't bother to name in my review, because he's hot. How original.
I cannot stress enough how unnecessary and out of left field Hekate's love life is to her story. It's like 2000s-2010s YA.
This is not the Hekate/Hecate I know and admire.
She is surprisingly faltering in her revenge against the gods, as well, considering everything, and in the first half of the book it is suggested she might be prone to vengeance, as one of her motivators (her primary goal is finding her purpose as a god), but it is yet another detail forgotten about later on.
'Hekate: The Witch' - where her title and purpose as the "Goddess of Witchcraft and Necromancy" falls incredibly short in comparison to doting on the male gods in her life.
I reiterate, plainly: when it comes to Hekate's witchcraft, show don't tell!
At least it is a thrilling, epic, educational exploration of Greek mythology and the deities throughout the ages. The Titan war, Hekate's parents Asteria and Perses, Kronos, Styx, Nyx, Gaia, Mnemosyne, Kore, Demeter, Queen Hecuba, Odysseus, every inhabitant of Hades/the Underworld, and so many others, are namedropped, and play important roles in how they relate to Hekate.
Motherhood, grief and bereavement are vital themes, handled quite well and consistently.
I like that it is pointed out how the very concept of womanhood is seen as a threat to the patriarchy, and that's why it has been demonised, shamed, mocked, beaten and treated with violence for centuries, if not millennia.
'I was starting to feel as though my entire existence was a threat. Perhaps this was what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power if pushed.' (page 277)
Feminism: depressingly relevant and needed in 2025.
I am sorry. No offense is meant by my middling-to-negative opinions and comments in my review of 'Hekate: The Witch'. I have positively no doubt Nikita Gill worked exceedingly hard in researching for and writing this poetry and narrative power ballad. I just think it could have been better. It should have been better.
Final Score: 3/5
December 20, 2025
Really good!
October 2, 2025
Hekate has always been my favorite Greek goddess, the keeper of crossroads, the torchbearer in the dark, the one I feel most at home with. So when I picked up this spellbound edition, I already knew it was going to be something special. What I didn’t expect was how quickly I would be swept away, I melted right into her story.
The way Nikita Gills writes of witchcraft, of womanhood, of stepping fully into your own power, is nothing short of breathtaking. I cannot wait to follow her magic into her next book.
The way Nikita Gills writes of witchcraft, of womanhood, of stepping fully into your own power, is nothing short of breathtaking. I cannot wait to follow her magic into her next book.
January 10, 2026
Mythological retellings seem to be all the rage these days, and I've read a few over the last year or two that I've really enjoyed. This one, not so much so.
Initially, I was pretty excited when a GR friend suggested this as a buddy read. As a student of ancient Greek history and culture, I was excited for Hekate, a tripartite goddess, of thresholds, magic, and other cool stuff. And this book was written in verse, so I came in to the book with high expectations.
I'm pretty sure my high expectations were what set me up for disappointment. First, the poetic nature of the book was practically non-existent. It would have been nice to have a few epithets for Hekate and the other immortals - eternal Hekate, protector Hekate, tripartite Hekate - these are all common in the sources. Grey-eyed Athena, swift-footed Hermes, etc. I really wanted there to be some nod to the classics - the Greek Hesiod or the Roman Ovid - but I couldn't really find it in the author's verse.
Instead, what I got was a pretty bland form of free verse, where there is no rhythm, no rhyme, and in some instances, I would say, no reason. Another reviewer said it best, and I will quote them: "I also have a problem with poetry that is literally just a full paragraph randomly split into different lines. If there's no intention behind the lines chosen for each verse, then it's just a paragraph with awkward formatting."
I also had problems with the story itself, particularly the "nothing burger" of an ending, the supposed romance between Hekate and Thanatos (WTF?), and Hekate's hatred of Zeus (umm, what?). In the end, my overall assessment was pretty much 'meh'.
Temple of Hekate in Lagina, Muğla Province, southwestern Türkiye https://turkisharchaeonews.net/site/l...
Hekate with flaming torches and a large dog, c. 7–6th century BCE, Museum der Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/heca...
Initially, I was pretty excited when a GR friend suggested this as a buddy read. As a student of ancient Greek history and culture, I was excited for Hekate, a tripartite goddess, of thresholds, magic, and other cool stuff. And this book was written in verse, so I came in to the book with high expectations.
I'm pretty sure my high expectations were what set me up for disappointment. First, the poetic nature of the book was practically non-existent. It would have been nice to have a few epithets for Hekate and the other immortals - eternal Hekate, protector Hekate, tripartite Hekate - these are all common in the sources. Grey-eyed Athena, swift-footed Hermes, etc. I really wanted there to be some nod to the classics - the Greek Hesiod or the Roman Ovid - but I couldn't really find it in the author's verse.
Instead, what I got was a pretty bland form of free verse, where there is no rhythm, no rhyme, and in some instances, I would say, no reason. Another reviewer said it best, and I will quote them: "I also have a problem with poetry that is literally just a full paragraph randomly split into different lines. If there's no intention behind the lines chosen for each verse, then it's just a paragraph with awkward formatting."
I also had problems with the story itself, particularly the "nothing burger" of an ending, the supposed romance between Hekate and Thanatos (WTF?), and Hekate's hatred of Zeus (umm, what?). In the end, my overall assessment was pretty much 'meh'.
Temple of Hekate in Lagina, Muğla Province, southwestern Türkiye https://turkisharchaeonews.net/site/l...
Hekate with flaming torches and a large dog, c. 7–6th century BCE, Museum der Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/heca...
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October 19, 2025
I'm surprised to say that I liked this. I didn't love it, mind you. But I did genuinely like it.
Gill certainly did her homework, which I find especially admirable given that she is Indian by way of Northern Ireland. Given my own extremely specific area of academic specialization, it was inevitable that I would have a fondness for Hekate. And while there was a trifle too much generic YA-ery here for my tastes (her relationship with Thanatos especially), it definitely wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. Yes, Gill's Hekate could be considered a burgeoning "girlboss," but it's a book about a chthonic goddess, daughter of titans, patroness of crossroads, darkness, night, witches, owls, magika and the underworld. What else are you EXPECTING from her?
Again, overall, I genuinely enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to further novels in the series.
Just with a bit less YA-ery, please.
Gill certainly did her homework, which I find especially admirable given that she is Indian by way of Northern Ireland. Given my own extremely specific area of academic specialization, it was inevitable that I would have a fondness for Hekate. And while there was a trifle too much generic YA-ery here for my tastes (her relationship with Thanatos especially), it definitely wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. Yes, Gill's Hekate could be considered a burgeoning "girlboss," but it's a book about a chthonic goddess, daughter of titans, patroness of crossroads, darkness, night, witches, owls, magika and the underworld. What else are you EXPECTING from her?
Again, overall, I genuinely enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to further novels in the series.
Just with a bit less YA-ery, please.
September 13, 2025
As a fan of Greek mythology retellings—especially those centered on goddesses and witches—I was excited to explore Hekate and dive into her story for the first time. This book also gave me my first real glimpse into the Titanomachy, which added a fresh layer to the mythological world I love.
Though I’ve seen Hekate referenced in other stories, I didn’t know much about her, so I was eager to hear her voice. Nikita Gill’s lyrical writing style gives the book a poetic, almost ethereal quality. The chapters are short and impactful, and the audiobook—narrated by Gill herself—enhances the experience. There's something special about hearing an author read their own work; it brings an extra layer of intentionality to the performance.
While some have compared this to Circe, I think the two are fundamentally different. Hekate has its own unique tone and storytelling approach—it’s not a fair comparison. Both are beautiful in their own right, but they offer distinct experiences.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the early listening copy!
Though I’ve seen Hekate referenced in other stories, I didn’t know much about her, so I was eager to hear her voice. Nikita Gill’s lyrical writing style gives the book a poetic, almost ethereal quality. The chapters are short and impactful, and the audiobook—narrated by Gill herself—enhances the experience. There's something special about hearing an author read their own work; it brings an extra layer of intentionality to the performance.
While some have compared this to Circe, I think the two are fundamentally different. Hekate has its own unique tone and storytelling approach—it’s not a fair comparison. Both are beautiful in their own right, but they offer distinct experiences.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the early listening copy!
January 17, 2026
Interestingly told in verse, this tells the story of often overlooked Goddess Hekate from her early start as a child of war (literally, her father is Perses the Titan God of war and destruction) to discovering her powers and place in the Underworld. I thought this was a nice introduction into the Greek myths, and the simplistic verse format meant nothing feels too weighed down by the overtly complicated family God dynamics. And it was thankfully lacking any of the usual Zeus sexual assaults that you often read about in Greek mythology. It's a lot lighter, concentrating firmly on Hekate and her youth and personal growth. I particularly liked her relationship with Styx, which grows from this complicated older sister type dynamic, where Hekate seems to have been thrust upon Styx though some kind of old obligation to her mother into something much more loving and motherly in nature.
For me personally, someone who's read so much Greek mythology and retellings, this felt a bit surface level, especially the secondary characters. We never really see the Olympians, and I would have liked to have seen Hekate interact with them more as it would have made the ending feel that but more impactful.
This would make a great read for a younger audience who has perhaps aged out of Percy Jackson but is still too young or intimidated by the numerous Greek myths and where to start and I'll definitely look into picking up Styx, the next in the series.
For me personally, someone who's read so much Greek mythology and retellings, this felt a bit surface level, especially the secondary characters. We never really see the Olympians, and I would have liked to have seen Hekate interact with them more as it would have made the ending feel that but more impactful.
This would make a great read for a younger audience who has perhaps aged out of Percy Jackson but is still too young or intimidated by the numerous Greek myths and where to start and I'll definitely look into picking up Styx, the next in the series.
October 5, 2025
Vivid imagery frames a complex journey through the underworld in verses that flow through Hekate's young life like the rivers that permeate the story. In spite of loving Greek mythology and the art it has inspired for millennia, I neither know much about Hekate nor many of the characters who appear in this work. Thus, I have no idea how perspective affects the retelling and how subversive it may or may not be - apart from the fact that she has more intelligence and agency than most Greek myths bestow upon women, even goddesses.
As well, not being one who understands poetry, I’m sure I missed some interesting facets of this beautiful work. Why are some things in verse and others in prose? Why is the book broken down the way it is? Visually I saw that some verses were positioned to form shapes, but that's about all I could pull out of the unusual format.
Regardless, I loved the story and the way it was told - political undertones and all. Using the audiobook narration by the author to accompany the physical book gave rhythm and texture to the poetry that my internal narration completely lacked.
As well, not being one who understands poetry, I’m sure I missed some interesting facets of this beautiful work. Why are some things in verse and others in prose? Why is the book broken down the way it is? Visually I saw that some verses were positioned to form shapes, but that's about all I could pull out of the unusual format.
Regardless, I loved the story and the way it was told - political undertones and all. Using the audiobook narration by the author to accompany the physical book gave rhythm and texture to the poetry that my internal narration completely lacked.
August 30, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free ALC novel in exchange for an honest review.
This was a well-done, short, and interesting take on Hekate the goddess of necromancy and witchcraft. The story was told somewhat in verse, which made it unique and provided a graceful lilt to the prose. Seeing the struggles that Hekate had to deal with and the changing relationships she had with some of the characters like Hades were told in such a well-done Greek myth fashion. Female empowerment is displayed throughout the book as well as the strong love and sacrifices of mother, the viciousness of the gods, and their lack of care.
I found this quote particularly powerful in the story: "Perhaps this is what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power if pushed." If you like Madeline Miller's work, I really think you will like this book as it did remind me a lot of Circe. I definitely will be reading more by Nikita Gill in the future!
This was a well-done, short, and interesting take on Hekate the goddess of necromancy and witchcraft. The story was told somewhat in verse, which made it unique and provided a graceful lilt to the prose. Seeing the struggles that Hekate had to deal with and the changing relationships she had with some of the characters like Hades were told in such a well-done Greek myth fashion. Female empowerment is displayed throughout the book as well as the strong love and sacrifices of mother, the viciousness of the gods, and their lack of care.
I found this quote particularly powerful in the story: "Perhaps this is what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power if pushed." If you like Madeline Miller's work, I really think you will like this book as it did remind me a lot of Circe. I definitely will be reading more by Nikita Gill in the future!
November 1, 2025
I listened to this as an audiobook whilst making a Halloween costume and it was a nice length, just over 6 hours! A story filled with all the best characters from greek mythology, I loved every minute.
November 8, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book!
DNF'ed.
I grew up on Percy Jackson which spawned my love for Greek mythology and made me request this book. Thanks to Percy Jackson, I knew who Hecate was and I was intrigued by a different take on it. Hecate is a very interesting figure in Greek mythology as she's the Titan of magic. The Titans are portrayed quite negatively so this book was like a reversal of the Titans vs Gods conflict found in many Greek myths.
I actually didn't know it was written in-verse when requesting it and I don't think I would've requested it had I known because I'm not particularly a fan of novels in-verse minus a couple exceptions but I have read and enjoyed The Odyssey.
The issue I have
with most in-verse novels
is that
making a new line
every couple words
is not really poetry
Unfortunately this book fell into that in terms of writing because my philosophy with in-verse novels is that the poetry should read as actual poetry and not complete sentences with line breaks every couple words and the poetry should actually add something to the writing. Some of these in-verse novels come across as being written as poetry to be *unique* without any effort into actually crafting prose. Additionally, while I expected it, the writing was just too flowery for my liking.
I did like the paragraphs inserted between verses but I felt like these paragraphs were difficult to read because they weren't broken up enough and frankly kind of chunky.
Overall, I can see the potential in this story but I just didn't like the writing style.
DNF'ed.
I grew up on Percy Jackson which spawned my love for Greek mythology and made me request this book. Thanks to Percy Jackson, I knew who Hecate was and I was intrigued by a different take on it. Hecate is a very interesting figure in Greek mythology as she's the Titan of magic. The Titans are portrayed quite negatively so this book was like a reversal of the Titans vs Gods conflict found in many Greek myths.
I actually didn't know it was written in-verse when requesting it and I don't think I would've requested it had I known because I'm not particularly a fan of novels in-verse minus a couple exceptions but I have read and enjoyed The Odyssey.
The issue I have
with most in-verse novels
is that
making a new line
every couple words
is not really poetry
Unfortunately this book fell into that in terms of writing because my philosophy with in-verse novels is that the poetry should read as actual poetry and not complete sentences with line breaks every couple words and the poetry should actually add something to the writing. Some of these in-verse novels come across as being written as poetry to be *unique* without any effort into actually crafting prose. Additionally, while I expected it, the writing was just too flowery for my liking.
I did like the paragraphs inserted between verses but I felt like these paragraphs were difficult to read because they weren't broken up enough and frankly kind of chunky.
Overall, I can see the potential in this story but I just didn't like the writing style.
October 15, 2025
DNF
I tried listening to the audiobook, and even though the story appealed to me, I can not continue due to the way it's narrated BY THE AUTHOR. Any other narrator and I wouldn't let it influence my decision so bad, but I can not listen to someone who pronounces every 'v' as a 'w'.
The word is not woices, it's voices.
Sorry Nikita.
I tried listening to the audiobook, and even though the story appealed to me, I can not continue due to the way it's narrated BY THE AUTHOR. Any other narrator and I wouldn't let it influence my decision so bad, but I can not listen to someone who pronounces every 'v' as a 'w'.
The word is not woices, it's voices.
Sorry Nikita.
August 14, 2025
thank you netgalley, nikita gill, and little, brown books for young readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! the first thing i noticed about this one is how STUNNING the cover is. it’s absolutely gorgeous and would look great on any bookshelf!
i’ve read some books before by this author and really enjoyed them, so i was excited to pick this one up. i didn’t love it quite as much as i’d hoped, but that’s an issue with me and the format because it truly is a beautiful book. for some reason, the fact that it was written in verse made it hard for me to get fully invested, but i appreciate what gill was doing and i think it makes a good reimagining of hekate’s story.
this one follows through hekate’s life from being a young child, which i really appreciated as i haven’t read a book about her before. it’s unique and full of lyrical passages and interesting characters. i think people of any age (ya and up) would enjoy this one. if you like greek mythology, stories about powerful women, or poetry, be sure to give this one a chance when it releases in september!
i’ve read some books before by this author and really enjoyed them, so i was excited to pick this one up. i didn’t love it quite as much as i’d hoped, but that’s an issue with me and the format because it truly is a beautiful book. for some reason, the fact that it was written in verse made it hard for me to get fully invested, but i appreciate what gill was doing and i think it makes a good reimagining of hekate’s story.
this one follows through hekate’s life from being a young child, which i really appreciated as i haven’t read a book about her before. it’s unique and full of lyrical passages and interesting characters. i think people of any age (ya and up) would enjoy this one. if you like greek mythology, stories about powerful women, or poetry, be sure to give this one a chance when it releases in september!
December 20, 2025
Schönes Buch für zwischendurch :-) und das Cover 😍😍😍
October 8, 2025
This was a really enjoyable story and I loved seeing Hekate's background as she's a character I haven't read all that much about! The plot is in the same vein as a lot of the other modern retellings where we're essentially following Hekate as she lives her life rather than delving too deep into her character but I don't mind that at all as honestly I'm just here for the classical atmosphere and ancient vibes!
The writing I didn't really understand all that much. It was easy to follow and parts were very beautifully written, but I'm not sure if its my hatred of poetry but I don't understand why she chose to write in verse?? It read very much like prose to me (which I was actually very happy about because I was initially nervous about it being too akin to poetry) but verse is also a mystery to me and I probably completely missed the point as I've avoided poetry like the plague my whole life and don't always understand its impact!! But overall, I enjoyed myself and didn't focus too much on the writing and I flew through this!
Definitely check this one out if you love Greek Mythology as its a great time and hopefully you'll end up liking Hekate as much as me!
The writing I didn't really understand all that much. It was easy to follow and parts were very beautifully written, but I'm not sure if its my hatred of poetry but I don't understand why she chose to write in verse?? It read very much like prose to me (which I was actually very happy about because I was initially nervous about it being too akin to poetry) but verse is also a mystery to me and I probably completely missed the point as I've avoided poetry like the plague my whole life and don't always understand its impact!! But overall, I enjoyed myself and didn't focus too much on the writing and I flew through this!
Definitely check this one out if you love Greek Mythology as its a great time and hopefully you'll end up liking Hekate as much as me!
September 16, 2025
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Hecate by Nikita Gill in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a beautiful and immersive read. Hecate unfolds as a story told through poetry, which made it all the more captivating. Gill’s lyrical writing draws you into Hekate’s world, weaving myth and voice together in a way that feels both ancient and urgent.
I have adored Hekate ever since first learning about her years ago, and perhaps that makes me a little biased, but this book exceeded my expectations. I was completely absorbed in the narrative and found myself lingering on passages just to savor the language. It felt like stepping into a myth while also hearing something entirely new.
Hecate is a powerful, atmospheric work that I would recommend to anyone who loves mythology and lyrical storytelling 💕
This was such a beautiful and immersive read. Hecate unfolds as a story told through poetry, which made it all the more captivating. Gill’s lyrical writing draws you into Hekate’s world, weaving myth and voice together in a way that feels both ancient and urgent.
I have adored Hekate ever since first learning about her years ago, and perhaps that makes me a little biased, but this book exceeded my expectations. I was completely absorbed in the narrative and found myself lingering on passages just to savor the language. It felt like stepping into a myth while also hearing something entirely new.
Hecate is a powerful, atmospheric work that I would recommend to anyone who loves mythology and lyrical storytelling 💕
October 26, 2025
Beautiful story of the greek godess and titan Hekate. She’s the goddess of magics, witchcrafts, crossroads, necromancy and keys. She’s one of the Greek goddess that I admire the most so I truly loved reading this. It came in a perfect time in my life where it felt like a soft and caring whisper that everything is going to be alright. I adore Hekate and look up to her as she’s guiding with her torch through the darkness.
Want to read
May 14, 2025i've always loved reading gill's poetry, especially fierce fairytales and this is said to be perfect for circe which is a favourite, so yes, september come here quick
December 10, 2025
Hekate: The Witch reads like a spell itself—beautiful, lyrical, and drenched in feminine power. I absolutely loved the way this was written; the poetry-like style made every page feel intentional and intimate, as if Hekate herself were guiding me through her mythology and magic.
This is the kind of book you savour slowly, letting the words settle into your bones. A stunning blend of myth, reflection, and divine feminine energy.
If you love poetic storytelling, goddess retellings, or books that feel like rituals… this one is a must-read.
This is the kind of book you savour slowly, letting the words settle into your bones. A stunning blend of myth, reflection, and divine feminine energy.
If you love poetic storytelling, goddess retellings, or books that feel like rituals… this one is a must-read.
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