Bytchcraft

by Aaron Reese

Three modern witches must parlay with ancient gods and battle supernatural forces to stop a biblical entity from ascending to godhood, unaware their resistance plays perfectly into their enemy's plan. Adriyel of the All-Seeing Eye, a pretentious oracle who speaks with the gods. Michele of Mother Earth’s Flesh, a nature wytch with a tender heart. Em of the Living Hellfire, an emo necromancer with a sharp tongue. These three friends are bound together through magick and blood as a queer coven in New York, each following their own magickal path under the watchful eye of their spectral coven matriarch, MTHR. When the coven accidentally sends all of New York into a supernatural eclipse and sends the magick of the city into imbalance, their presence is revealed to a religious zealot and their angelic beast of retribution. Not only that, they soon discover they are at the center of an ancient prophecy, and all of wytchkind hangs in the balance! Now, each of them must face the secrets of the past, present, and future in order to save the magick. Created by the late Aaron Reese, Bytchcraft is a love letter to queer friendship, Black Magick, and the found families that sustain us. Enter the magickal world of Bytchcraft and remember – God Save the Wytch.

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, LGBT, Graphic Novels

Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2026

Reviews

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queer Joy Saves the World!

Aaron Reese has delivered a graphic novel that is for the gays, theys, and all the club kids of the world! Set in an alternate NYC, this story follows a coven of Black queer witches, Adriyel, Michele, and Em, each with their own specialty and divinity as they tackle what might be the darkest night and worst fight that NYC has ever seen. We watch this coven flirt, fight, and attempt to survive within a system that seemingly is meant to break them and the end has me hungering for more!

Don't miss this story, you won't find one with this same level of attitude and family!

PS - the art within this story is absolutely stunning. It is vibrant and full of neon chaos in all the best ways. It adds so much beauty to the already messy and beautiful story within these pages!

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Selling Pitch:
An incoherent urban fantasy that has some truly stunning art wasted on it.

On my do not read list.

Pre-reading:
The title kinda looks like Butchcraft, but sweet baby jesus, I love that cover.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Are they gonna explain why she just like has a serval? (Nope.)

I’m getting a little cranky. This is not digestible.

Oh cool, so literally no explanation for the reader or the characters. What are we doing? We’ve got limited pages.

The dialogue is cringing me out.

Yeah, I have no idea what’s going on.

This is incoherent. I almost feel like I’m missing pages.

I would DNF here. Like it’s actually indecipherable, which is a shame because the art is beautiful.

Kamala Harris???????? As one of the villain’s reincarnations? Bruh.

Who’s dad though? (Never answered.)

I thought Rhiannon was the cow, but he drew a bull. Like it’s got a penis.

This back half is better because we’re finally getting some clear plot, but I’m still like none of this really makes sense.

Post-reading:
The art in this is stunning, but the story is incoherent. You’re dropped into a world with no explanation and aren’t just expected to hit the ground running, but you’re expected to comprehend and make cognitive leaps for an invented magic system and religion that will never be explained to you. Even if you try to just roll with it, the story only gets more punishing. Characters start crying and dying, but the audience won’t feel anything for them because they have no idea what’s going on. The gist of the story as I understood it is that Eve is trying to gain magic by killing all the witches. The story’s trio has to stop her by communing with a handful of goddesses who can’t just smite Eve themselves because? And their mom tried to stop Eve before but mommy dearest failed. Somehow Eve waited to kill everyone until the kids grew up and randomly used magic to trigger an eclipse because? Do you see what I’m getting at? Even if you accept that you’re not gonna get an explanation for how any of the magic works, you’re still left with all these motive and logic gaps to the world.

And it’s a shame because the art is stunning. The colors are beautiful. The fashion is avant-garde. The animal familiars are unique. The theming of the monsters and worlds and goddesses are so good.

The story just needed a complete overhaul. It is nearly indecipherable. There’s a lot of slang and rather than feeling appropriate for the young characters, it came off cringe, and it only further muddied the plot. The characters’ voices aren’t consistent either. They’re saying Dafuq one minute and then speaking in subtext-laden riddles to goddesses the next. Also, it’s a weird move to me to have one of your villain’s reincarnations be Kamala Harris. Like did you want Trump? Lord knows I’m not a fan of her either, but did ya see the alternative? Unfortunately, I will be putting this on my do not read list just because I think deciphering the story is going to stump and frustrate most readers, but if you wanna see some vaguely Lisa Frank art, it’s worth the flip through just to see the panels.

Who should read this:
Lis Frank fans
Avant-garde fashion fans

Ideal reading time:
Anytime

Do I want to reread this:
Nope.

Would I buy this:
Nope

Similar books:
* Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker-YA urban fantasy, queer romance, family drama
* Godly Heathens by H. E. Edgmon-YA urban fantasy, queer romance, trans, gods
* Evocation by S. T. Gibson-urban fantasy, queer romance, witches
* Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma-YA dark academia, urban fantasy, vampires, family drama
* This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings-YA historical, urban fantasy, queer romance, vampires, family drama

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharmaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

★ Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the chance to review this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts ★

This graphic novel publication of Bytchcraft is a collection of the first five issues of the Bytchcraft comic series. It follows a three-person, queer, black coven residing in a dark and magickal New York City scene. The plot focuses on an unintentional, supernatural eclipse that throws NYC into disarray. It is up to these three wytches (Adriyel the All-Seeing Eye, Michele of Mother Earth’s Flesh, and Em of the Living Hellfire) to ultimately fix the cosmic disturbance to save all of magick-kind.

If I could choose one word to describe Bytchcraft, it would be: CHAOTIC. There are so many layers to this story from the worldbuilding to the characterization to the dialogue, that when combined, feels somewhat disjointed and jarring. This could be due to the fact that there is minimal exposition but it could also be due to the fast-paced nature of the story. It seems like scenes last for about 5-6 pages before the story progresses, so it almost feels like there isn’t enough time being utilized to build the world and the plot.

The panels are jam packed with short and quick dialogue which comes off as witty and quirky in a way that highlights the characters’ personalities, however, at times it feels like it lends little to the overall plot because these quips so rarely tell us what exactly is going on.

As far as the characters go, they are interesting on a surface level where they are these cool, edgy, powerful wytches, but because time moves so fast in this comic, it is hard to connect with them and truly understand their motivations and why they do what they do or feel what they feel. It’s such a shame because these characters have so much potential.

While the story may have not captured my attention, I would like to say that the artwork is what kept me reading. The character designs are so fashion forward and iconic in a way that feels youthful and alternative and queer. The use of color and shading is gorgeous. The night scenes are depicted in hues of blue and purple and the magick is expressed through different colors like pink/red, blue/purple, and green. The background setting is also well done. I especially love the NYC scenes as they capture the essence of the city.

Unfortunately, a comic/graphic novel that is built on heavy magickal systems can’t just be pretty. There needs to be deep explanation to the world and too the plot on top of great visual art.

This book felt very ambitious and while the ideas weren’t perfectly executed, I would say that it has elements that make it interesting enough to continue turning the page.

[Lex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Mad Cave for the eARC!
This gets a solid 3, and I don't give it that 3 happily either.

I wanted to like this so much more than I did but the storyline felt a little incoherent and fairly rushed. I think if the plot took more time with itself to let it all breathe this would've gone so much better. But the story felt really rushed and in doing that we lost out on character development, inter-character relationship development as well. I ADORE the art in this though, this book if nothing else is absolutely a magnificent work of physical art.

I just wish there was more time to be able to flesh things out like the existence of the other covens, MTHR, our coven's backstory, and all of them as individual characters. I was billed on this featuring a coven of queer, Black wytches and there really wasn't much queer on page most of it was implied or occurred off-page before the story even takes place.

I was genuinely interested in Eve from the literal garden being the BBEG but her motive isn't well explained and the way that she's swiftly dealt with and without much of a struggle felt supremely anti-climatic and was kind of a letdown especially since just pages before we got the super awesome full art of our MC's fighting to get into the church and then just as quickly as they enter it's just over? And with a "End..?" is fine, but I have no reason to really care about Adri, Michele, and Em to actually bother with a continuation. I really feel like this would have greatly benefited with taking the pacing much slower and not trying to compress this into 5 single issues.

[East of Reality · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is … all over the place. And not in a good way. First, let’s start with the most obvious issue: the art. It’s glorious, dynamic, colorful, expressive — and there’s a unicorn. Unfortunately, for me, that’s where the praise ends and I have to talk about the many ways this collection didn’t work for me.

We’re introduced to the three characters, then there are three angels, then an eclipse and now the world’s in danger. I still have no idea what the angels had to do with anything, or what’s going on with the eclipse and why it’s the witches fault. Then is a grand adventure as the witches talk to people, then have a fight, and then somehow the big bad dies and the world is … fine?

I feel like so much was left out! I have no idea who Adriyel, Michele, or Em are beyond their art designs and a few token words. Why are there angels? Dozens if not hundreds of people have been killed but … it’s all okay? I went to google to see if this was a book series first, which might have had more information about the plot, or the characters, or … anything, but it doesn't like it.

As a book of pretty pictures, this worked so well. As a story, not so much. It’s confusing, rushed, and I was completely lost. While there are interesting moments about witchcraft, love, support and mythology, those were only moments in between the muddle of the rest of the book. I’m sorry, as lovely as this is, it’s a pass from me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Bytchcraft is like a fever dream. At the end, you're not sure what just happened.

Firstly, I love this cover, and that's what made me want to read this comic book. The art style inside also doesn't disappoint, it's gorgeous and fits perfectly to the story.
The problem here is the story. It's so chaotic, and it jumps from one thing to another without explanation. I will give my best summary of the plot, but I'm not 100% sure it's correct.

Bytchcraft is about a three-person coven of witches. They were doing some magic, but something didn't work and they created a constant night. Which apparently isn't good. And even after the Mthr who is their guardian, tells them how important it is to reverse it (but doesn't tell them how to do it), they don't try to reverse it, instead they go to a party. Only after some dark things start to happen do they get interested in reversing their mistakes, but by then they catch the attention of an evil being.
Cue running around other dimensions and asking others for help. And the final fight was really underwhelming.

I liked the relationship between the main characters and how they supported each other. But their behaviour was mostly annoying. Side characters say ominous stuff and aren't much of a help.
I wanted to understand this comic book because it has some great ideas, but it just doesn't work too well.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book.

[Bebo Saucier Carrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to like this so much. I mean, a coven of queer black witches takes on organized religion? Hell yeah. The art is GORGEOUS and the character designs (including their outfits!) are so incredible. But while this is a visual masterpiece, the storytelling is so disjointed. It felt like being dropped in the middle of a world, with so little background as to what was happening. If the comic had been longer and had taken the time to establish the world and characters, it could have been wonderful.

[Kai · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was some interesting stuff about the character's as in there abilities, but that was about it. The comic it self was rather boring, with a major flow on storyline and character development that was all over the place with out making a sense. I am not sure why say queer when that was really never a point that looked important. Sadly the art was horrible as well. Disappointed with storyline and character representation. It looked like it could have been interesting but was not at all well put together.

[Simon Says Hellooo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! Will be looking for more

The art! I loved everything about this and can’t wait to keep reading. The characters designs are so interesting and I am invested.

This follows 3 witches who have caused an eclipse trying to do something else and now they have to fix it before it's too late.

[Ex Libris Animus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dig it so far.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging characters whose antics set up a world of interesting witchcraft politic - looking forward to #2

[Theediscerning · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just nonsense – not my kind of thing at all.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers – Mad Cave Studios – for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

‘Tis the witchy season. The story is straightforward – our heroes must defeat a bigger evil. Their powers and power of friendship will guide them through. I liked the religious theme, and I did like the inclusion of a plethora of different identities. Such a good medium to display this topic in.

Love the illustrations by Lema Carril.

[Wm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too enamoured with the mechanics of an invented spirituality/mythology, and far too little time depicting the trio's casual selves. Which is frustrating, as all they're doing is hanging out together, shittalking.

We see them scolded by their mentor for shenanigans and told to fix it, then lowkey begged to do same by two frenemies, while NOT showing us how they go clubbing. Instead, we're shown how they wander boringly through the streets after leaving the club, ignoring the pressing issue of an everlasting night of their own magical making.

Like, yeah, "girl" (spoken off-panel, and unclear whether "girl" referred to the trio's woman or to the pseudofemme labelled "he"), go take a nap while %$#@ing ravens and cats complain.

Whatev. This book had already lost in the first few pages. IRL religion is drudgery enough without having to read the finer points of a fictional one.

[Khabeer Rashad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black, Gay & magical?! yeah, give me 50 issues please