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Witch in the Wall: Book I

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The wicked witch below Everwatch has been imprisoned longer than even the faerie lords can remember. Her name is a curse, and her sins haunt nightmares.

Gavriel Hall, bastard son of a dead king, wants nothing more than to escape the underground prison-city he calls home. But he’s a pathological liar who avoids conflict at all costs, and he doesn’t dare brave the boundary stones.

On bad days, he records the names of those sacrificed as part of the soul tithe. On good days, he lets himself pine for his best friend Aziz, a mysterious outcast with the twin swords of a forgotten hero.

When his half-siblings' war for the throne turns Everwatch into a battlefield—and a spectacularly ill-timed kiss drives Aziz away—Gavriel thinks his hopes of a new life are destroyed. That is, until the witch locked below offers him enough dark magic to fix everything. For a price.

As bloodshed engulfs the city, Gavriel must decide what he's willing to pay for new horizons—and whether he's truly the coward everyone believes him to be.

498 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

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33 people want to read

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Quinn Hogshead

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
201 reviews11 followers
January 13, 2026
“Witch in the Wall,” by Quinn Hogshead is a highly recommended, must-read fantasy novel for 2026 due to its impeccable and original world-building, a complex but highly fascinating magic system, the hilarious but also frightening bickering between immortals, and a brutal sibling rivalry unlike any other.

Gavriel Hall lives in Everwatch, a place well-known due to the wicked witch that has been imprisoned beneath it longer than the faerie lords can remember. Her crimes are so great that no one dares speak her name.

Gavriel is the bastard son of the king who rules Everwatch, a king who is now dead. While his siblings fight for their place on the throne, Gavriel spends his days recording the names of those sacrificed as part of the soul tithe and pining after his best friend Aziz, a mysterious outcast with the twin swords of a forgotten hero.

When the rivalry between his siblings turns Everwatch into a battlefield, Gavriel thinks his hopes for a new life elsewhere are impossible. That is, until the witch below offers him enough dark magic to fix everything. But it comes with a price. With magic running through his veins and possibilities at his fingertips, Gavriel must decide what he’s willing to pay for a new future and if he’s really the coward everyone believes him to be.

This is such an incredible story that immediately draws the reader in from the first page when the children of the dead king are revealed. An insight is given into the siblings and their dynamics, offering a purview of who they are before the rivalry for the throne turns them into bloodthirsty hounds lacking morals and empathy. Furthermore, it emphasizes Gavriel’s role as an observer, someone who refuses to involve himself in conflict and politics for the sake of his own desire to flee his home at any cost. Gavriel’s inability to fling himself into action and preference to watch events unfold at a safe distance doesn’t make him a particularly likable character. In fact, often his inaction is aggravating and hard to read. Yet, as the story progresses, he becomes much more likable as he finds a backbone and learns to be the kind of person someone can admire.

The magic system is intriguing for its complexities and originality. Sometimes it becomes hard to follow, especially in high-action scenes where little explanation is given (likely because it would slow down the pacing). One aspect of Gavriel stepping into an advanced magic system that’s enjoyable is how much he needs to learn and how, when it comes to battle, his lack of knowledge and experience becomes a detriment. It’s nice to read a story where the main character has to work at becoming a master of their craft (or gift) because it feels more relatable and realistic.

“Witch in the Wall” by Quinn Hogshead is a fantastic novel that fantasy readers will absolutely love. It’s expected to be published on January 13th, 2026. Make sure to not only add it to your TBR’s but pick it up and give it a read ASAP! Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for providing me with an e-arc of this novel and for the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
Profile Image for Karolina.
22 reviews9 followers
January 13, 2026
A superb debut novel from Quinn Hogshead. After reading the blurb I knew this was a book for me, but I didn't expect to enjoy it so much.

Gavriel Hall is a bastard son of the king of Everwatch. A place where humans live in an enclosed valley controlled by the faeries. When the king dies and his half - siblings start waring for the crown, Gavriel's only wish is to escape this prison - like city and start a new life. When all his plans and hopes are ruined a witch offers to help but for a price.

Gavriel's relationship with his siblings is very strained, he feels like part of the family but prefers to stay away from them and not interfere with their quarrels. After their father's death any familial feelings between them were gone and they started to see each other as enemies, rivals for the throne. To get it they will do anything.

The author poses difficult questions about humanity and grief. Can you hate and miss a person at the same time, is it right to kill somebody you love because it needs to be done for the sake of others.

Gavriel struggles with his emotions of grief and belonging. He always ran away whenever things got too much for him, choosing to become a witch was supposed to be the easy way out. He struggles to embraces his powers without losing his humanity. As the story progresses Gavriel starts to understand what is expected of him and what he can achieve with his powers.

"Things get worse until someone tries to make them better. If you sit around waiting to be happy, you'll never find it. "

All the characters in the novel are well fleshed out. The world building and magic system were amazing. The use of magic was very unique and complex. The concept of witches being a host and type of "parasite" was very interesting and adds depth to characters. The writing was poetic and the descriptions were very vivid.

Overall, this is a magnificent start to a new series. I would recommend it to everyone who loves magic, witches and amazing fight scenes. I will definitely read more books from this author.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Wrath Pot.
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 29, 2025
A Fantasy book where Gavriel Hall, a bastard son of a king who transforms from being a mere scribe to something greater.

Gavriel, although he grew up with his family, was never regarded truly as one of them. He would love nothing more than to escape the underground "home" he lives in and forget about everything about his life here in Everwatch.

Upon the announcement of the King dying, the siblings gather to see who become next warden, and as with any sibling relationships, not all see eye to eye. There is a palpable tension between the siblings, and we explore who they are, and what drives each of them to want to become Warden.

What is one willing to do to get revenge? or to gain control? As we explore their pasts in the first half of the book, we grieve who they were as children with Gavriel and the events that shaped them today.

Gavriel would rather stay out of it, but is pushed into being someone he never knew how to be, someone who has a backbone, who can stand up for himself, someone who doesn't run, someone who now has another voice in his head and memories of past lives that both are and are not him. Who is he now that these events have pivoted in a direction he could have never seen coming? Will he allow his grief to win, or can he push passed and save Everwatch?

I loved the magic in this book, and the concept of how the witches work is analogus to the way the avatar (the last Airbender) would tap into his power , which made the concepts easy to picture and understand.

I was not expecting the scenes to be as gruesome and savage as they were, but it does get graphic, and feels.... intense. I enjoyed this book. It was a nice pace, easy to follow , and the grief Gavriel feels is relatable, although there were many times I wished he would just get a grip haha.
Profile Image for Leanne.
684 reviews66 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 7, 2026
Witch in the Wall is one of those rare fantasy novels that feels both claustrophobic and expansive at the same time. Set in the shadowy depths of Everwatch—a prison‑city carved into the earth—this story blends dark magic, political intrigue, and aching, complicated relationships into something genuinely compelling.

Gavriel Hall is an immediately memorable protagonist: a chronic liar with a soft heart, a sharp tongue, and absolutely no desire to be a hero. His voice carries the book with a mix of humour, self‑loathing, and reluctant hope that makes him impossible not to root for. His dynamic with Aziz is tender, messy, and beautifully human, grounding the story even as the stakes spiral into the mythic.

The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling heavy, and the atmosphere—gloomy tunnels, cursed stones, whispered legends of a witch who should never be woken—wraps around you like damp fog. When the witch finally enters the narrative in earnest, the tension sharpens deliciously. The moral ambiguity throughout is handled with a deft touch; every choice Gavriel faces feels both inevitable and devastating.

What really stands out is how the book balances its darkness with genuine warmth. Amid soul tithes, political bloodshed, and ancient magic, there’s a beating heart: friendship, longing, and the desperate desire to carve out a future that looks different from the past.

A moody, character‑driven fantasy with teeth—and a surprising amount of soul. I’ll be thinking about Gavriel and Aziz for a long time.

with thanks to Quinn Hogshead, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Profile Image for Axel.
140 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 3, 2026
4,5⭐

One of the best parts of ‘Witch in the Wall’ is the relationships between Gavriel and his siblings. Their dynamics are really fun to read about, especially when all of them are first introduced, and I would have loved even more scenes focused on them.
Gavriel’s relationship with his love interest is also enjoyable to follow, though I did feel that the pacing of their relationship sped up a bit too quickly at times. Still, their interactions were charming overall. (Aziz is a hottie)
That said, the best relationship in the entire book is easily the one between Gavriel and his masque, The Voyager. Watching them learn how to co-exist as one person while still remaining true to themselves was fascinating, and their constant bickering made me laugh multiple times.
‘Witch in the Wall’ is very well paced, the ending may feel a little fast, but it works because the final scenes unfold like a domino effect, with each moment naturally triggering the next.
I went into the book expecting the magic system to be fairly basic, but I was pleasantly surprised. The magic is well thought out, complete with ranks, rules, and a rich backstory that adds depth to the world.
Quinn Hogshead is a great writer overall. The dialogue feels natural, the descriptions are vivid, and the characters feel alive on the page. I cannot wait for future installments in the Squall series, as well as other novels Hogshead will write.
Profile Image for Shafaah.
27 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 30, 2025
Thank you to net galley and the publishers for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO ENJOY THIS AS MUCH AS I DID!!!!!
I was so close to a reading slump and knew I needed some good old fashioned fantasy to pull me out of it, but I also went in with pretty low expectations. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. The plot was very much giving Mistborn meets Avatar The Last Air Bender but much bleaker and not so hopeful. The plot kept moving forward at a steady pace but every now and then you'd get flashback chapters which helped to unravel the family relationship which at the core of the story. While the storyline was interesting I did keep getting a bit lost with the magic system and the worldbuilding. There wasn't much explanation and I'd get confused trying to figure out what was actually going on. I'd have liked more worldbuilding and a more consistent tone, there were a few times where the writing style skewed more YA and the use of "mom" and "dad" really pulled me out of the story. But other than that, it was quite an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next book. Especially after that bloody cliffhanger!!!!!!
Profile Image for Terry Herres.
33 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 6, 2026
WITW is a debut novel from Quinn Hogshead and I am so thouroughly impressed with this read.

Quick breakdown:
Pacing: 4.5/5
Plot: 5/5
Character voice: 3.5/5
Setting: 5/5

Overall the book reads very well, starts strong, uses flashback passages tactfully and carefully, and is (most importantly) captivating.

A note to the unassuming: there are brief mild romance scenes, but nothing approaching romatasy style books.

The anti-hero protagonist was written in a way to be very relatable even though their world is so different from ours. The twists upon twists align very well with established lore in the book. At first, when I saw appendicies with names and definitions, I thought the book was going to be tough to digest, but everything flowed well and Quinn did well to describe things in an approachable manner.

If I had to take anything to task, I feel like the Voyager had a confusing voice considering who his character is supposed to be. I couldn't buy that his speech patterns matched how his character was defined.

I recieved an Advance Reader Copy and am providing a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Brynne Reilly.
7 reviews
January 18, 2026
3.5 stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the ARC copy.

This book had great ideas and a compelling storyline that made me want to know how everything works out in the end. It has an interesting and fresh magic system that can take a moment to wrap your head around.

However, I can tell it’s a debut novel. For many scenes, it felt that the author had a thesaurus in front of them, trying not to repeat any descriptors. I will admit, there are times where the author gets into the groove and the scene just flows smoothly. Gav receives the same description regarding the magic several times, all from different witches and it felt too repetitive.

I think that this could be a story that booktok would love as it seems to fit in the New Adult genre really well.

I am excited to see Quinn’s writing evolve and I do plan on reading the next installment of this series.
Profile Image for Rokkan.
197 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 1, 2026
I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Got to say, I read this book in two sittings, and if I'd not needed to break for lunch I probably could have gone all way through it in one. The world building is interesting, the magic system is unlike any I've read before and somewhat creepy to boot, and the juxtaposition of past and present was really well done, leading the plot well, and really, the ~500 pages went along like a breeze. There were one or two wrong-word type errors that a spellchecker or editor might miss but on the whole a very enjoyable start to the series. And the epilogue was nice and juicy too; while I kind of linked some plot points early on, that last little bomb shell was a good way to keep me wanting more.
Profile Image for Jessica Beebe.
126 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 4, 2026
Witch in the Wall

Rating: 4

Holy moly, what a debut.

This is fantasy novel came as such a delightful surprise and a great way to kick off my 2026 reading year.

Focussing on Gabriel Hall, the illegitimate son of the king, being summoned with all of his siblings to announce a death which will cause his world to crumble.

The world building in this tale is brilliant, creating an eerie sense of "otherness" and ensuring that the reader has a claustrophobic feel.

On top of that, the magic system used is one of the most unique and interesting that I have read.
Does it baffle me slightly? Yes.
Am I still a fan? Absolutely!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
Profile Image for Sarah Higginbottom.
150 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 31, 2025
Witch in the Wall (Book I) was weird in a good way. The magic feels creepy and super personal, like the house itself is watching you. It’s definitely a slower burn, but the atmosphere kept pulling me in. If you like dark fantasy that feels a little haunted and uncomfortable (in a fun way), this one’s worth checking out. 🖤✨

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Quinn Hogshead and Atmosphere Press📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚
13 reviews
January 14, 2026
Interesting world building and a compelling use of first person narration. I think this novel tonally balanced humor and dark themes well, def recommend giving it a read. Looking forward to the next installation :)!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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