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Red Witch
Not yet published
Expected 30 Sep 26What if the fairy tales you know are not separate stories, but all a part of one?
MAGIC-BORNS. MORTALS. 100 YEARS OF BLOODSHED.
Red is a witch gifted with the ability to read hearts, to see beyond the organ to the soul that lies within. For the past five years, she's been trying to survive her forced apprenticeship to the Novem, an army of merciless magic-borns.
When an act of kindness and unexpected magic sees a dead witch's final possession in her hands, Red's secret dream of escape is finally realised. However, her freedom comes with a cost. One that will leave her vulnerable and exposed in a land where being a witch means either slavery or death.
Jack is a mortal thief with a knack for impossible jobs. For the past three years, an inherited debt has forced him to risk his life stealing magical artefacts for the black markets of the Unified Kingdoms, an alliance of mortal nations against magic.
When a job lands him in the Palace of Admira, ruled by the Novem, and a powerful artefact in his grasp, Jack may finally be able to pay back his debt. However, his theft comes with a snag. One that will leave him questioning all that he knew and set in motion events he could’ve never imagined.
The Seer is a rewriter of fate. For decades, an ancient evil has been growing in the shadows. When an unexpected encounter offers a chance at salvation, the Seer can finally bring their carefully planned story to life. However, going against fate comes with a price. One that will force Red and Jack to partake in a destiny that neither of them asked for.
K.T. Kaye retells and reimagines beloved and lesser-known fairytales in this sweeping tale of magic, family and fate.
MAGIC-BORNS. MORTALS. 100 YEARS OF BLOODSHED.
Red is a witch gifted with the ability to read hearts, to see beyond the organ to the soul that lies within. For the past five years, she's been trying to survive her forced apprenticeship to the Novem, an army of merciless magic-borns.
When an act of kindness and unexpected magic sees a dead witch's final possession in her hands, Red's secret dream of escape is finally realised. However, her freedom comes with a cost. One that will leave her vulnerable and exposed in a land where being a witch means either slavery or death.
Jack is a mortal thief with a knack for impossible jobs. For the past three years, an inherited debt has forced him to risk his life stealing magical artefacts for the black markets of the Unified Kingdoms, an alliance of mortal nations against magic.
When a job lands him in the Palace of Admira, ruled by the Novem, and a powerful artefact in his grasp, Jack may finally be able to pay back his debt. However, his theft comes with a snag. One that will leave him questioning all that he knew and set in motion events he could’ve never imagined.
The Seer is a rewriter of fate. For decades, an ancient evil has been growing in the shadows. When an unexpected encounter offers a chance at salvation, the Seer can finally bring their carefully planned story to life. However, going against fate comes with a price. One that will force Red and Jack to partake in a destiny that neither of them asked for.
K.T. Kaye retells and reimagines beloved and lesser-known fairytales in this sweeping tale of magic, family and fate.
529 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 30, 2026
About the author
K.T. Kaye
3 books12 followersK.T. Kaye's debut fantasy novel RED WITCH is now available to pre-order!
K.T. Kaye is an author, actress and cosy content creator. When she was a teenager, she self-published The Dragonheart Chronicles, a YA Paranormal adventure series that became a bestseller on Amazon.
She later moved into writing Fantasy novels, got signed with Emyrnn Publishing in a three-book deal for her upcoming novels in the RED WITCH SAGA.
K.T. Kaye is an author, actress and cosy content creator. When she was a teenager, she self-published The Dragonheart Chronicles, a YA Paranormal adventure series that became a bestseller on Amazon.
She later moved into writing Fantasy novels, got signed with Emyrnn Publishing in a three-book deal for her upcoming novels in the RED WITCH SAGA.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy
i received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and i am leaving this review voluntarily.
3.5 - rounding to 4
the prose of the author is what drew me into this ARC, and one of the things i loved most about this book. the mood of the scene is always on full display, almost as if you can feel the vibe of the setting and characters the way that Red can read hearts and feelings. i love Red as a character, a bit atypical of a protagonist, where she is almost more of a strong silent type that may normally be attributed to a male character. she has a lot of pain within her that we get snippets of throughout the book, but she keeps moving forward and always thinks of others. Jack is also such a fun character, more of a typical rogueish thief, with his own tragic backstory that ends up being deeply intertwined with Red. the slow burn feels really nice, and i almost didn't expect that there would even really be a romance involved. the characters all felt interesting, and the variety amongst them was amazing! it's not often that you get to see disabilities in the main cast of a book.
the bits of fairy tale stories were used really well, melded into the plot and character backstories where you can see exactly what's being referenced but it doesn't necessarily give too much away about what's going on. i think on a large scale overall the plot was great, and there were many moments where i was unsure what was going to happen next and surprised by twists and turns! at the same time, i think a weak point was some confusion in scenes on a smaller scale, where things shifted during a scene in a way i wasn't able to envision in my head smoothly which made me reread a couple paragraphs sometimes to make sure i didn't miss anything. one example in particular near the end was during . there was also some moments that were unclear to me during the plot like . in addition, moments with flashbacks, while denoted with italics, was a little confusing as to what exactly was going on at first, which i think for some was the intention, but for others, felt a little randomly thrown in and confusing at first. there were some other random moments that threw me for a loop in the book, but i overall still enjoyed the plot and was interested in seeing where it lead.
i'm grateful to have gotten the chance to read this ARC as i can see this saga having potential, and i'd love to know more about some of the other characters we only got snippets of. i'm looking forward to more releases in this series and from this author in general as i think her eye for atmosphere and unique lovable characters is awesome!
3.5 - rounding to 4
the prose of the author is what drew me into this ARC, and one of the things i loved most about this book. the mood of the scene is always on full display, almost as if you can feel the vibe of the setting and characters the way that Red can read hearts and feelings. i love Red as a character, a bit atypical of a protagonist, where she is almost more of a strong silent type that may normally be attributed to a male character. she has a lot of pain within her that we get snippets of throughout the book, but she keeps moving forward and always thinks of others. Jack is also such a fun character, more of a typical rogueish thief, with his own tragic backstory that ends up being deeply intertwined with Red. the slow burn feels really nice, and i almost didn't expect that there would even really be a romance involved. the characters all felt interesting, and the variety amongst them was amazing! it's not often that you get to see disabilities in the main cast of a book.
the bits of fairy tale stories were used really well, melded into the plot and character backstories where you can see exactly what's being referenced but it doesn't necessarily give too much away about what's going on. i think on a large scale overall the plot was great, and there were many moments where i was unsure what was going to happen next and surprised by twists and turns! at the same time, i think a weak point was some confusion in scenes on a smaller scale, where things shifted during a scene in a way i wasn't able to envision in my head smoothly which made me reread a couple paragraphs sometimes to make sure i didn't miss anything. one example in particular near the end was during . there was also some moments that were unclear to me during the plot like . in addition, moments with flashbacks, while denoted with italics, was a little confusing as to what exactly was going on at first, which i think for some was the intention, but for others, felt a little randomly thrown in and confusing at first. there were some other random moments that threw me for a loop in the book, but i overall still enjoyed the plot and was interested in seeing where it lead.
i'm grateful to have gotten the chance to read this ARC as i can see this saga having potential, and i'd love to know more about some of the other characters we only got snippets of. i'm looking forward to more releases in this series and from this author in general as i think her eye for atmosphere and unique lovable characters is awesome!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book does something rare and amazing in the Fantasy genre. It features a diverse cast of disabled main characters in a story that has nothing to do with disability.
As someone who is disabled, I can attest that it is so hard to find a book with one decent disabled character that doesn't fall into the usual tropes of sad, mad or bad. Even in books where the character avoids those tropes, they rarely avoid having their disability as the main focus of that character or sometimes their whole personality. When I saw the author advertising ARCs of Red Witch on Insta, and I saw it said disability rep, I admit I didn't think it would be anything worth noting, but was intrigued enough to give it a try.
And I am SO GLAD I did! This book has more than one (GASP!) disabled main lead, and the story is never about their disabilities, in fact other then as a backstory their disabilities are rarely focused on at all. They're just there. Not only that, but one of them is the LOVE INTEREST(!!!!) and one of the others is actually the most important character in the story, narrative-wise. It's such a change from other books I have read. I could have given it five stars just for that!
However, the story is also incredible! Fairy tales are embedded in this dark, complex fantasy world. It's not exactly a direct retelling, but it takes inspiration from many tales and beautifully weaves them into the plot. It's very clever and Kaye's prose are lyrical and hold true to the fairy tale setting.
I adore the characters. They are layered and flawed and beautiful. Not only are they diverse in a disability sense, but also diverse in race, gender and LGBT - though the latter relates more to characters who seemingly will appear more in the next book. It's great to see and to see that it's a real range, with diversity happening for both the good guys and the bad.
Mato is such a sweetheart! I love him, and I will be fuming if something happens to him in later books. Or to any of this found family. Red is a wonderful character and, my god, does she go through a lot! Praying she gets a bit of happiness in the future, but the ending doesn't leave that very likely. As for Jack, he's just THE BEST! He's such a great character, so well developed, so different and the male main character I have been waiting for.
Overall, I highly recommend you give RED WITCH a go. It might not hit the same way for you as it did for me, but it's just such a rarity in fantasy nowadays that it deserves a chance. I will definitely be reading the sequel and whatever else K.T. Kaye brings out next.
Thank you K.T. Kaye and Emrynn Publishing for giving me this ARC. All the thoughts above are my own. :)
As someone who is disabled, I can attest that it is so hard to find a book with one decent disabled character that doesn't fall into the usual tropes of sad, mad or bad. Even in books where the character avoids those tropes, they rarely avoid having their disability as the main focus of that character or sometimes their whole personality. When I saw the author advertising ARCs of Red Witch on Insta, and I saw it said disability rep, I admit I didn't think it would be anything worth noting, but was intrigued enough to give it a try.
And I am SO GLAD I did! This book has more than one (GASP!) disabled main lead, and the story is never about their disabilities, in fact other then as a backstory their disabilities are rarely focused on at all. They're just there. Not only that, but one of them is the LOVE INTEREST(!!!!) and one of the others is actually the most important character in the story, narrative-wise. It's such a change from other books I have read. I could have given it five stars just for that!
However, the story is also incredible! Fairy tales are embedded in this dark, complex fantasy world. It's not exactly a direct retelling, but it takes inspiration from many tales and beautifully weaves them into the plot. It's very clever and Kaye's prose are lyrical and hold true to the fairy tale setting.
I adore the characters. They are layered and flawed and beautiful. Not only are they diverse in a disability sense, but also diverse in race, gender and LGBT - though the latter relates more to characters who seemingly will appear more in the next book. It's great to see and to see that it's a real range, with diversity happening for both the good guys and the bad.
Mato is such a sweetheart! I love him, and I will be fuming if something happens to him in later books. Or to any of this found family. Red is a wonderful character and, my god, does she go through a lot! Praying she gets a bit of happiness in the future, but the ending doesn't leave that very likely. As for Jack, he's just THE BEST! He's such a great character, so well developed, so different and the male main character I have been waiting for.
Overall, I highly recommend you give RED WITCH a go. It might not hit the same way for you as it did for me, but it's just such a rarity in fantasy nowadays that it deserves a chance. I will definitely be reading the sequel and whatever else K.T. Kaye brings out next.
Thank you K.T. Kaye and Emrynn Publishing for giving me this ARC. All the thoughts above are my own. :)
Review of advance copy
I received a free ARC of Red Witch from Booksirens in return for an honest review.
"It begins with an apple. Trouble often does, doesn't it"
Rating: 4.4
I actually really liked this. It was different from anything I have read before and very different from K.T. Kaye's previously self-published work. I enjoyed this one more, and there is a lot of improvement in the author's writing. It lost out on a 5-star rating as I went into this thinking it was a standalone, and it is actually part of a trilogy(?), so I was felt a little deflated at the end realising that things were left unanswered.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was the way it was written. The writing is quite lyrical and whimsical, not really like anything else I have written. Red's ability to read hearts allowed for some beautiful prose and got you thinking about what your own heart or soul would look like. There is something rather bittersweet about it, that really suits Red's character as well.
"It was sickeningly beautiful. An unshackled heart. A soul with the imagination of a child and the wild spirit of a bear. It glowed the freshest green with the desire to run free, to feel the earth against his paws. Like golden hour over a sunlit woodland, this was a soul that brought light to the darkest of places."
Another thing I enjoyed was that the book stuck true to its fairy tale theme, incorporating elements of some many different stories (there's a reference list at the end going through them) whilst also remaining something individual and new. It wasn't a direct retelling of anything and yet it retold a number of tales. I feel it would be a good one to annotate and highlight the different fiarytales when they turn up.
It also maintained the style of a fairytale with a quest that has to be done a certain way, items to find and a narrative to follow. This was actually a part I thought was very cleverly written. The story is in a way a story in itself. There were parts of the story when I was reading where I was thinking the events felt a bit coincidental, but then the plot twist hits, and it's like oh, it was supposed to feel like that!
"The more she thought about them, the more she felt like a character in a play. The scenes had been laid out for her. The dialogue was missing, but the stage directions remained, leading her from one point to the next. She was the one to struggle, to fight and bleed, while an unseen audience cheered her on. "
The whole element of the Seer, who the Seer was, and fate was such an interesting concept and one that I hope gets explored more in the next books, that I will be reading as I do want to know how this all ends. I hope we don't have to wait too long between releases as it ended on a big cliffhanger, which, as I said, I wasn't prepared for.
"It begins with an apple. Trouble often does, doesn't it"
Rating: 4.4
I actually really liked this. It was different from anything I have read before and very different from K.T. Kaye's previously self-published work. I enjoyed this one more, and there is a lot of improvement in the author's writing. It lost out on a 5-star rating as I went into this thinking it was a standalone, and it is actually part of a trilogy(?), so I was felt a little deflated at the end realising that things were left unanswered.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was the way it was written. The writing is quite lyrical and whimsical, not really like anything else I have written. Red's ability to read hearts allowed for some beautiful prose and got you thinking about what your own heart or soul would look like. There is something rather bittersweet about it, that really suits Red's character as well.
"It was sickeningly beautiful. An unshackled heart. A soul with the imagination of a child and the wild spirit of a bear. It glowed the freshest green with the desire to run free, to feel the earth against his paws. Like golden hour over a sunlit woodland, this was a soul that brought light to the darkest of places."
Another thing I enjoyed was that the book stuck true to its fairy tale theme, incorporating elements of some many different stories (there's a reference list at the end going through them) whilst also remaining something individual and new. It wasn't a direct retelling of anything and yet it retold a number of tales. I feel it would be a good one to annotate and highlight the different fiarytales when they turn up.
It also maintained the style of a fairytale with a quest that has to be done a certain way, items to find and a narrative to follow. This was actually a part I thought was very cleverly written. The story is in a way a story in itself. There were parts of the story when I was reading where I was thinking the events felt a bit coincidental, but then the plot twist hits, and it's like oh, it was supposed to feel like that!
"The more she thought about them, the more she felt like a character in a play. The scenes had been laid out for her. The dialogue was missing, but the stage directions remained, leading her from one point to the next. She was the one to struggle, to fight and bleed, while an unseen audience cheered her on. "
The whole element of the Seer, who the Seer was, and fate was such an interesting concept and one that I hope gets explored more in the next books, that I will be reading as I do want to know how this all ends. I hope we don't have to wait too long between releases as it ended on a big cliffhanger, which, as I said, I wasn't prepared for.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rating: 4.8 ✨️
I was utterly hooked on this story from beginning to end. I didn’t want to put it down. The proses are lyrical and full of atmosphere. The writing sets the tone of a dark fairy-tale, and this novel never forgets its folklore roots. Rather than being a direct fairy-tale retelling, Red Witch weaves different fairy tales together to create a plot that is totally unique and different. Recognising the fairy tales being referenced is part of the charm of the story, and then, after reading the reference list the author provides at the back, finding new fairy tales to enjoy just adds to the magic.
The twists and turns of this story are so well done. Characters’ backstories interact in ways I wasn’t expecting, yet make total sense for the story. And having the ever-looming presence of the Seer, who is literally writing these characters’ stories and making them go on quests, trials, and tribulations all whilst hidden in the background, was masterfully done. It has you questioning every “convenience”, every moment of “plot armour” and every plot twist.
I also really appreciated the pacing of this book. There was a lot of action and danger, but there were also moments of stillness. Kaye allowed us time to see these characters fully – both their past and their present – and see them in moments of slowness.
The characters themselves were delightfully diverse and felt grounded. Red is such a lovely female protagonist. She’s gentle and soft, but never undermined. She saves herself and the others, but she is not the type of character who is actively looking for a fight. Her strong, silent type paired with the roguish and funny Jack was so much fun to read. Their bickering lightened the plot that doesn’t hide away from dealing with some heavily topics.
And, of course, I cannot not talk about Mato. What a charming character. It is so nice to see deaf main characters and, in fact, just so many disabled characters that Kaye presents in this novel. There is true diversity in this cast across the board, and it makes the characters so compelling to read about.
Overall, an incredible debut with wonderful writing, lovable characters, plenty of plot twists and, of course, dark fairy-tale retellings. I am eagerly waiting for the next instalment.
Thank you to Booksirens, Emrynn Publishing and, of course, K.T. Kaye for allowing me to read this truly “spellbinding” ARC in return for an honest review.
I was utterly hooked on this story from beginning to end. I didn’t want to put it down. The proses are lyrical and full of atmosphere. The writing sets the tone of a dark fairy-tale, and this novel never forgets its folklore roots. Rather than being a direct fairy-tale retelling, Red Witch weaves different fairy tales together to create a plot that is totally unique and different. Recognising the fairy tales being referenced is part of the charm of the story, and then, after reading the reference list the author provides at the back, finding new fairy tales to enjoy just adds to the magic.
The twists and turns of this story are so well done. Characters’ backstories interact in ways I wasn’t expecting, yet make total sense for the story. And having the ever-looming presence of the Seer, who is literally writing these characters’ stories and making them go on quests, trials, and tribulations all whilst hidden in the background, was masterfully done. It has you questioning every “convenience”, every moment of “plot armour” and every plot twist.
I also really appreciated the pacing of this book. There was a lot of action and danger, but there were also moments of stillness. Kaye allowed us time to see these characters fully – both their past and their present – and see them in moments of slowness.
The characters themselves were delightfully diverse and felt grounded. Red is such a lovely female protagonist. She’s gentle and soft, but never undermined. She saves herself and the others, but she is not the type of character who is actively looking for a fight. Her strong, silent type paired with the roguish and funny Jack was so much fun to read. Their bickering lightened the plot that doesn’t hide away from dealing with some heavily topics.
And, of course, I cannot not talk about Mato. What a charming character. It is so nice to see deaf main characters and, in fact, just so many disabled characters that Kaye presents in this novel. There is true diversity in this cast across the board, and it makes the characters so compelling to read about.
Overall, an incredible debut with wonderful writing, lovable characters, plenty of plot twists and, of course, dark fairy-tale retellings. I am eagerly waiting for the next instalment.
Thank you to Booksirens, Emrynn Publishing and, of course, K.T. Kaye for allowing me to read this truly “spellbinding” ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a delightful surprise!
I previously read K.T. Kaye's self-published paranormal series and really enjoyed it (such a shame she put the series on hiatus; I hope it gets renewed one day!), and so when I saw that she had a new book with a publisher coming out, I was excited to try it.
Red Witch is VERY DIFFERENT from her previous works, but in a good way. You can see that she has really grown as a writer, and the style feels more mature, which makes sense as she wrote her previous stuff as a teenager. Yet her ability to write lovable characters hasn't changed.
I adore Red. She is such a different female lead from other fantasy books I have read. She's a gentle and soft female lead, but still manages to be pretty badass. She won't let anyone touch the people she loves and is willing to fight when she has to. And she's imperfect. She gets things wrong and gets overwhelmed by things. Her relationship with her found-family son, Mato, is the best. I adore this mother and son duo.
Jack is our roughish thief, and he is just good fun. He's entertaining and, again, different from other male leads in that he's not brooding or angsty, but a "ray of sunshine" according to the landladies at the pubs he frequents.
There were a lot of other characters that interested me too, but to talk about them too much would give spoilers. I am very interested to see how things will go in the next book as there are a lot of minor characters that didn't get explored as much who I would love to know more about - The Seer, Ravenna and Sinan especially.
The plot twists kept me guessing. Its almost annoying because once it's revealed, it's actually obvious that this was what Kaye was setting up, but when I was reading it, I was just enjoying it, and it didn't click. And the Seer plot was clever; I really liked how it unfolded and am very intrigued to see where that will go.
Overall, I was happily surprised by this. It's so nice to see how an author develops over time, and I will definitely be reading more of K. T. Kaye's work in the future!
Thank you to Booksirens, K.T. Kaye and Emrynn Publishing for allowing me to read this wonderful ARC.
I previously read K.T. Kaye's self-published paranormal series and really enjoyed it (such a shame she put the series on hiatus; I hope it gets renewed one day!), and so when I saw that she had a new book with a publisher coming out, I was excited to try it.
Red Witch is VERY DIFFERENT from her previous works, but in a good way. You can see that she has really grown as a writer, and the style feels more mature, which makes sense as she wrote her previous stuff as a teenager. Yet her ability to write lovable characters hasn't changed.
I adore Red. She is such a different female lead from other fantasy books I have read. She's a gentle and soft female lead, but still manages to be pretty badass. She won't let anyone touch the people she loves and is willing to fight when she has to. And she's imperfect. She gets things wrong and gets overwhelmed by things. Her relationship with her found-family son, Mato, is the best. I adore this mother and son duo.
Jack is our roughish thief, and he is just good fun. He's entertaining and, again, different from other male leads in that he's not brooding or angsty, but a "ray of sunshine" according to the landladies at the pubs he frequents.
There were a lot of other characters that interested me too, but to talk about them too much would give spoilers. I am very interested to see how things will go in the next book as there are a lot of minor characters that didn't get explored as much who I would love to know more about - The Seer, Ravenna and Sinan especially.
The plot twists kept me guessing. Its almost annoying because once it's revealed, it's actually obvious that this was what Kaye was setting up, but when I was reading it, I was just enjoying it, and it didn't click. And the Seer plot was clever; I really liked how it unfolded and am very intrigued to see where that will go.
Overall, I was happily surprised by this. It's so nice to see how an author develops over time, and I will definitely be reading more of K. T. Kaye's work in the future!
Thank you to Booksirens, K.T. Kaye and Emrynn Publishing for allowing me to read this wonderful ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I think this has to be a new favourite for me. It's so different to other books that I have read, and it was just such a fun read. Kaye's writing style is beautiful, and there were so many quotes that I ended up tagging. And how the starting lines and ending lines were the same! I wonder if that's something that will continue in the next books.
I adored the characters and the very slow-burn romance between our leads. Red was such a lovely protagonist. She was such a kind and gentle character, yet this didn't hold her back or stop her from fighting for her loved ones. The twist with Jack's identity really surprised me. It shouldn't have done, looking back as all the signs were there, but wow! Also, the twist with the Seer and the kind of "predetermined" path the characters were forced to follow felt very true to the fairy-tale theme. Look forward to reading more from this series in the future.
Quotes I liked:
"Bravery wasn't something that came naturally to anyone. It was born in the coils of panic and bloomed from the desire to live."
"Life was but a story. Every breath taken another word on the page. Each step walked a plot twist waiting to happen."
"what the youngest daughter didn't realise was that true demons rarely look like monsters. They usually look like men"
"She was lost, cast adrift in an ocean of grief, stronger than anything she'd sailed before. Thoughtless yet mind racing, each new sensation splashing into her tiny raft. She clung to the broken wood, hoping it would become steady ground beneath her feet. If she could stop it from capsizing, then everything would be okay. Everything would be as it was. Wave upon wave crashed against her. The raft overturned. She was forced underwater, dragged down so deep that it was impossible to deny the obvious. She was drowning."
Thank you to K.T KAYE, Emrynn Publishing and Booksirens for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
I adored the characters and the very slow-burn romance between our leads. Red was such a lovely protagonist. She was such a kind and gentle character, yet this didn't hold her back or stop her from fighting for her loved ones. The twist with Jack's identity really surprised me. It shouldn't have done, looking back as all the signs were there, but wow! Also, the twist with the Seer and the kind of "predetermined" path the characters were forced to follow felt very true to the fairy-tale theme. Look forward to reading more from this series in the future.
Quotes I liked:
"Bravery wasn't something that came naturally to anyone. It was born in the coils of panic and bloomed from the desire to live."
"Life was but a story. Every breath taken another word on the page. Each step walked a plot twist waiting to happen."
"what the youngest daughter didn't realise was that true demons rarely look like monsters. They usually look like men"
"She was lost, cast adrift in an ocean of grief, stronger than anything she'd sailed before. Thoughtless yet mind racing, each new sensation splashing into her tiny raft. She clung to the broken wood, hoping it would become steady ground beneath her feet. If she could stop it from capsizing, then everything would be okay. Everything would be as it was. Wave upon wave crashed against her. The raft overturned. She was forced underwater, dragged down so deep that it was impossible to deny the obvious. She was drowning."
Thank you to K.T KAYE, Emrynn Publishing and Booksirens for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
September 14, 2026
3,5 ⭐️
The writing was one of the highlights of Red Witch for me. Kaye’s prose is lyrical and atmospheric, perfectly suited to the dark fairy-tale feel of the story. Red’s ability to read hearts also creates some beautiful, bittersweet descriptions.
I really loved Red as a protagonist. She’s a strong, silent type carrying a lot of pain while always putting others before herself. Jack was a great contrast—a charming, rogueish thief with a tragic backstory that becomes unexpectedly intertwined with Red’s. I also enjoyed their slow-burn romance, especially since I wasn’t expecting much romance going in.
The fairy-tale elements were my favourite part. Rather than being a direct retelling, the story cleverly weaves pieces of many different tales into its own dark fantasy world. I loved recognising the references while still being surprised by where the plot was heading. The quest structure, rules, objects to find, and predetermined path also gave it that classic fairy-tale feeling.
I did struggle with some of the execution. There were moments where scene transitions were difficult to visualise, and I occasionally had to reread paragraphs to understand what was happening. The flashbacks could also be confusing at first, despite being italicised.
That said, the overall plot kept me invested. The twists surprised me, and the mystery surrounding the Seer, fate, and Red’s predetermined path was especially intriguing. I definitely want to see where this goes next.
Overall, an intriguing dark fairy-tale fantasy with clever folklore influences, memorable characters, and a lovely slow-burn romance. I had some issues with the execution, but I’m definitely invested enough to continue the series.
Thank you to Booksirens, K.T. Kaye and Emrynn Publishing for eARC.
The writing was one of the highlights of Red Witch for me. Kaye’s prose is lyrical and atmospheric, perfectly suited to the dark fairy-tale feel of the story. Red’s ability to read hearts also creates some beautiful, bittersweet descriptions.
I really loved Red as a protagonist. She’s a strong, silent type carrying a lot of pain while always putting others before herself. Jack was a great contrast—a charming, rogueish thief with a tragic backstory that becomes unexpectedly intertwined with Red’s. I also enjoyed their slow-burn romance, especially since I wasn’t expecting much romance going in.
The fairy-tale elements were my favourite part. Rather than being a direct retelling, the story cleverly weaves pieces of many different tales into its own dark fantasy world. I loved recognising the references while still being surprised by where the plot was heading. The quest structure, rules, objects to find, and predetermined path also gave it that classic fairy-tale feeling.
I did struggle with some of the execution. There were moments where scene transitions were difficult to visualise, and I occasionally had to reread paragraphs to understand what was happening. The flashbacks could also be confusing at first, despite being italicised.
That said, the overall plot kept me invested. The twists surprised me, and the mystery surrounding the Seer, fate, and Red’s predetermined path was especially intriguing. I definitely want to see where this goes next.
Overall, an intriguing dark fairy-tale fantasy with clever folklore influences, memorable characters, and a lovely slow-burn romance. I had some issues with the execution, but I’m definitely invested enough to continue the series.
Thank you to Booksirens, K.T. Kaye and Emrynn Publishing for eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“What if the fairy tales you know are not separate stories, but all a part of one? A magical read I couldn't put down!”
Rating: 4.8 /5 (rounded up to 5)
Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale retelling/ inspired
Tropes: Found Family
Spice: No Spice (romance is very much a subplot, but there is a suggested closed-door scene)
Wow! This was such a magical read. If you (like myself) loved watching the show ONCE UPON A TIME, then you'll enjoy this. I adored how the fairy tales were woven into the story and were given a totally new spin. The author also includes a reference list of all the fairy tales mixed into the story because there are a LOT. Some of them I have never heard of before, and I had to look up. The plot is fast-paced, and we are thrown almost straight into the action. There are plenty of twists and turns - some I saw coming, but some of them, I absolutely did not and yet, once revealed, they made so much sense!
The characters are delightful. They are not your typical fantasy heroes, and I loved that there was so much disability rep. Mato is my favourite, and if anything happens to him, I might actually cry! Red is a grumpy witchy sweetheart, and Jack is so much fun. There is a romance line in this, but it is subtle and a subplot, but you're still rooting for them, and I look forward to seeing how that develops, especially after THAT PLOT TWIST!
Overall, a magical fairytale read, and I CANNOT WAIT to pick up the next book when it is out.
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Rating: 4.8 /5 (rounded up to 5)
Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale retelling/ inspired
Tropes: Found Family
Spice: No Spice (romance is very much a subplot, but there is a suggested closed-door scene)
Wow! This was such a magical read. If you (like myself) loved watching the show ONCE UPON A TIME, then you'll enjoy this. I adored how the fairy tales were woven into the story and were given a totally new spin. The author also includes a reference list of all the fairy tales mixed into the story because there are a LOT. Some of them I have never heard of before, and I had to look up. The plot is fast-paced, and we are thrown almost straight into the action. There are plenty of twists and turns - some I saw coming, but some of them, I absolutely did not and yet, once revealed, they made so much sense!
The characters are delightful. They are not your typical fantasy heroes, and I loved that there was so much disability rep. Mato is my favourite, and if anything happens to him, I might actually cry! Red is a grumpy witchy sweetheart, and Jack is so much fun. There is a romance line in this, but it is subtle and a subplot, but you're still rooting for them, and I look forward to seeing how that develops, especially after THAT PLOT TWIST!
Overall, a magical fairytale read, and I CANNOT WAIT to pick up the next book when it is out.
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rating: 4.6 ✨️ (rounded up to 5)
Genre: High Fantasy ⚔️Fairytale Retellings (LOTS OF THEM)
Spice: No Spice 🫑 (Not really a romance, but there is a romantic subplot)
Tropes: Found Family 👨👩👦
Highlight: LOTS of disability rep.
I have followed the author's YouTube channel for a while and was very excited to get an ARC of this.
Don't be fooled by the cat on the cover; this is most certainly a High Fantasy. There is quite a lot of violence and action in this . . . but there is also a cat! The twist at the end with who this cat is in terms of fairy tales was very satisfying. And it is definitely a fantasy and not a romantasy. There is a love line, but it is very much a slow burn subplot, which worked really well as the characters were going through a lot and romance was neither of their focus.
The characters were delightful and well developed. They were flawed and imperfect, but I really enjoyed reading about them and learning their stories. There was also a lot of disability rep in this story with main characters who are d/Deaf, amputees, wheelchair users and anxity rep too. The author is herself a disabled woman which explains why the disability rep is so well done and even though its part of the story, it's never THE STORY, which, as a disabled person myself I really appreciated.
Happy to have read this and am considering buying the hardback as the cover is so pretty!
I received a free copy of Red Witch via Emrynn Publishing in return for an honest review.
Genre: High Fantasy ⚔️Fairytale Retellings (LOTS OF THEM)
Spice: No Spice 🫑 (Not really a romance, but there is a romantic subplot)
Tropes: Found Family 👨👩👦
Highlight: LOTS of disability rep.
I have followed the author's YouTube channel for a while and was very excited to get an ARC of this.
Don't be fooled by the cat on the cover; this is most certainly a High Fantasy. There is quite a lot of violence and action in this . . . but there is also a cat! The twist at the end with who this cat is in terms of fairy tales was very satisfying. And it is definitely a fantasy and not a romantasy. There is a love line, but it is very much a slow burn subplot, which worked really well as the characters were going through a lot and romance was neither of their focus.
The characters were delightful and well developed. They were flawed and imperfect, but I really enjoyed reading about them and learning their stories. There was also a lot of disability rep in this story with main characters who are d/Deaf, amputees, wheelchair users and anxity rep too. The author is herself a disabled woman which explains why the disability rep is so well done and even though its part of the story, it's never THE STORY, which, as a disabled person myself I really appreciated.
Happy to have read this and am considering buying the hardback as the cover is so pretty!
I received a free copy of Red Witch via Emrynn Publishing in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A spellbinding Fantasy debut unlike anything I have read before.
This book was a delight to read from beginning to end. K.T. Kaye’s writing is rich and lyrical. Whimsically descriptive and lush in its prose, it’s the type of writing that makes it almost impossible to put the book down.
The story is fast-paced and full of action, yet it perfectly balances moments of stillness and reflection, allowing us a deeper look into the lives and backstories of our characters. The characters themselves are an incredibly diverse cast with hidden depths and complexity to each of them.
Rejecting common fantasy stereotypes, Red is a gentle and soft female lead who is both a mother and a fighter. She retains her femininity and is never presented as “not being like other girls”. Jack offers another rejection of stereotypes as a black and disabled male main lead, who is far from the brooding, morally grey characters that have taken over the genre. Along with Mato, Leverett, the Seer, and Sinan, the story offers a wide range of characters, with interwoven plotlines and clever plot twists.
Overall, this book was a spellbinding read. Captivating from beginning to end. I am very much looking forward to seeing how the RED WITCH SAGA continues and to read more from K.T. KAYE.
Thank you to Emrynn Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my honest review.
This book was a delight to read from beginning to end. K.T. Kaye’s writing is rich and lyrical. Whimsically descriptive and lush in its prose, it’s the type of writing that makes it almost impossible to put the book down.
The story is fast-paced and full of action, yet it perfectly balances moments of stillness and reflection, allowing us a deeper look into the lives and backstories of our characters. The characters themselves are an incredibly diverse cast with hidden depths and complexity to each of them.
Rejecting common fantasy stereotypes, Red is a gentle and soft female lead who is both a mother and a fighter. She retains her femininity and is never presented as “not being like other girls”. Jack offers another rejection of stereotypes as a black and disabled male main lead, who is far from the brooding, morally grey characters that have taken over the genre. Along with Mato, Leverett, the Seer, and Sinan, the story offers a wide range of characters, with interwoven plotlines and clever plot twists.
Overall, this book was a spellbinding read. Captivating from beginning to end. I am very much looking forward to seeing how the RED WITCH SAGA continues and to read more from K.T. KAYE.
Thank you to Emrynn Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Truthfully, I have never written a book review before and until today didn't have Goodreads, however, I have followed KT Kaye on insta for a while and when she posted about an opportunity for an ARC, I wanted to try. I didn't expect for my request to be accepted! I squealed like crazy when I got the email. I was so excited. And it was worth it! Red Witch was very, very good. I really enjoyed reading it and following these characters. I think Jack is my favourite character. I found him funny. The plot twist was crazy and I didn't see it coming at all. Yeah, it was very good and I think everyone should give it a try.
Thank you very much KT KAYE for the ARC.
Thank you very much KT KAYE for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an intense and well thought outbook! This book drew me in... The writing style, the world creation and the superb fairytale references being written into the book was so well done. I found myself often to not feeling what the main female character felt. This was a good feel book about finding yourself being different and doing it all in a strong but dramatic way.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Enjoyed reading this ARC.
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