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Witchward Bound: A Butter and Owl Adventure
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26192 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Erin Bow
12 books810 followersTEN THINGS ABOUT ME:
1. I'm a physicist turned poet turned YA novelist.
2. I am world-famous in Canada, which is kind of like being world-famous in real life.
3. I write books for young readers and people like me who didn't grow up. All my books will either will make you either cry on the bus or snort milk out your nose. I am dangerous to your dignity and should be stopped.
4. I needed WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS to have a happy ending, so I wrote a middle-grade book called STAND ON THE SKY
5. I needed a book with a Spock-like hero who was also a queer girl, so I wrote THE SCORPION RULES, and its sequel THE SWAN RIDERS.
6. I think cats can actually talk, but don't find us worthy, hence PLAIN KATE.
7. I hate horror, so I wrote a horror: SORROW'S KNOT,
7. I think Hufflepuff is the best house, Xander was the best Scoobie, Five was the best Doctor, and Spock was the best everything.
8. I am married to another novelist, and we can actually pay our bills. Our daughters want to be scientists.
10. My bookshelves will always be full.
1. I'm a physicist turned poet turned YA novelist.
2. I am world-famous in Canada, which is kind of like being world-famous in real life.
3. I write books for young readers and people like me who didn't grow up. All my books will either will make you either cry on the bus or snort milk out your nose. I am dangerous to your dignity and should be stopped.
4. I needed WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS to have a happy ending, so I wrote a middle-grade book called STAND ON THE SKY
5. I needed a book with a Spock-like hero who was also a queer girl, so I wrote THE SCORPION RULES, and its sequel THE SWAN RIDERS.
6. I think cats can actually talk, but don't find us worthy, hence PLAIN KATE.
7. I hate horror, so I wrote a horror: SORROW'S KNOT,
7. I think Hufflepuff is the best house, Xander was the best Scoobie, Five was the best Doctor, and Spock was the best everything.
8. I am married to another novelist, and we can actually pay our bills. Our daughters want to be scientists.
10. My bookshelves will always be full.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 27, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an Early Review ARC of Witchward Bound: A Butter and Owl Book from NetGalley. As an educator and a parent with daughters in the target age range, we decided to make it our nightly read-aloud. It quickly became a favorite.
Butter and Owl are wonderfully charming characters, and their quest to find their missing witch makes for a cute twist on the classic hero’s journey. As an educator, I especially appreciated how the story incorporated rich vocabulary. Butter’s word choices and Owl's confusion sparked great conversations, and my daughters and I often paused to talk about the memorable quotes and ideas woven throughout the book from the different characters.
The blend of adventure, imaginative creatures, and thoughtful language made this story both entertaining and meaningful. I would love the opportunity to share it with a 4th or 5th grade class because it offers the perfect mix of fun storytelling and educational value. I will be looking for other books by Erin Bow.
Butter and Owl are wonderfully charming characters, and their quest to find their missing witch makes for a cute twist on the classic hero’s journey. As an educator, I especially appreciated how the story incorporated rich vocabulary. Butter’s word choices and Owl's confusion sparked great conversations, and my daughters and I often paused to talk about the memorable quotes and ideas woven throughout the book from the different characters.
The blend of adventure, imaginative creatures, and thoughtful language made this story both entertaining and meaningful. I would love the opportunity to share it with a 4th or 5th grade class because it offers the perfect mix of fun storytelling and educational value. I will be looking for other books by Erin Bow.
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April 12, 2026This was delightful! Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC. I will post a more extensive review closer to publication date - but I loved the Odyssey elements that were woven into this magical tale. Butter is a cat and Owl is a Raven. They are familiars to a witch named Penelope. One day, Penelope vanishes. Butter and Owl realize they must go find her -- they are her familiars. They ground her. She needs them! They consult with the goats and receive a Canny Bell which, when sounded, will help guide them. The bell leads them to a boat - the Bright Idea - and so we are off on quite the adventure - a true heroes' quest. I am looking forward to seeing the illustrations!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of WitchWard Bound from NetGalley.
This is a warm, whimsical story for young readers about unlikely friends discovering what it means to be brave. Butter and Owl set off on a gentle adventure filled with humour, small surprises, and light challenges along the way.
The pacing is easy to follow and well suited to children, giving space for the story’s charm and character moments to shine without feeling rushed or overwhelming. At its heart, it’s a story about friendship, courage, and kindness.
Overall, Witchward Bound is a lovely choice for young readers who enjoy gentle fantasy, fun characters, and comforting adventure stories
This is a warm, whimsical story for young readers about unlikely friends discovering what it means to be brave. Butter and Owl set off on a gentle adventure filled with humour, small surprises, and light challenges along the way.
The pacing is easy to follow and well suited to children, giving space for the story’s charm and character moments to shine without feeling rushed or overwhelming. At its heart, it’s a story about friendship, courage, and kindness.
Overall, Witchward Bound is a lovely choice for young readers who enjoy gentle fantasy, fun characters, and comforting adventure stories
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rated 4.5 stars (I couldn’t add the half-star here).
This story is so cute, heartwarming and has hints of well-known mythology references. I loved the writing style, which might cause some issues for younger readers, but my well-read 4th grader could easily follow along (the parenthetical breaks to add additional insight is pretty much the way my own brain works). The characters learn important lessons on what it means to work together, how to handle self-doubt and self-criticism in the most wholesome of ways.
This story is so cute, heartwarming and has hints of well-known mythology references. I loved the writing style, which might cause some issues for younger readers, but my well-read 4th grader could easily follow along (the parenthetical breaks to add additional insight is pretty much the way my own brain works). The characters learn important lessons on what it means to work together, how to handle self-doubt and self-criticism in the most wholesome of ways.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a lot of fun and has occasional funny bits that my daughter, age 12, particularly enjoyed. We tried to read a chapter most nights. It is a retelling of The Odyssey in which the main characters are a talking cat and owl. I thought the introduction of new vocabulary words was very skillful; the cat uses large words and has to explain them to the owl.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews