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Poison The Well

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"Break the line, poison the well...”

Born in the wake of tragedy and raised in the cold shadow of Lord Cillian’s castle, Emer lives her life as a simple washerwoman. Her world is built on suds, linens, and her grandmother’s grim warnings of the Bean-nighe—the fairy washerwoman who scours the blood from the linens of those destined to die.

Legends grow from a seed of truth as the nightmares born of myth become Emer's life.

In a world ruled by those with hearts full of greed and ambition, is a promise kept enough to overcome a bargain broken?

Paperback

Published June 22, 2026

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About the author

J.K. Divia

5 books109 followers
J.K Divia is a dark fantasy, mythological horror, and contemporary paranormal author whose work is inspired by folklore, selkie lore, witches, and world mythology. Through her stories, she brings readers on emotional journeys that explore loss, resilience, and transformation.

When not writing, you can find her spending time with her family, chasing after her kids.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for Deborah Fontaine.
689 reviews50 followers
March 10, 2026
I dove into “Poison The Well” completely unaware of its folkloric origins, yet J.K. Divia crafts such immersive and chilling horror that I’ve found myself utterly captivated—and genuinely frightened.

This book was a real delight. The writing is exquisitely dark and gothic, making it a pleasure to explore the various tales woven through time. I particularly valued the dynamic between Ember and her grandmother, as well as the budding romance with Finn. Nevertheless, it’s Ember's relationship with her grandmother that genuinely takes precedence, showcasing an incredibly strong bond. The storytelling is spot on, skillfully developing the characters and their relationships, and the ending left a lasting impression on me.

At the back of the book, there's a glossary, along with a helpful pronunciation guide for the folklore figures right at the front. This captivating work is not yet published, but it’s set to hit the shelves on June 22, 2026.

I am grateful for ARC copy for my review.
Profile Image for Jess.
1,376 reviews65 followers
August 9, 2026
*paperback

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5/5)

I met this author today at the Book Fair in Bel Air. She was so sweet and I had to have this book after she pitched it and told me about the premise.

This book was outside of my regular go to genres. I’m glad I got out of my comfort zone for this one.

It’s a dark, folksy fairytale kind of novella and I really enjoyed it.

I feel like this would be so cool if it were adapted into a grown up fairytale animated short. I think the artwork could be incredible especially just based on the art in the book and on the cover.

The story was intriguing and kept my interest from start to finish.
Profile Image for Brenda Yager.
204 reviews4 followers
June 26, 2026
I'm grateful that i was apart of the ARC team for Poison the Well. This Celtic folklore, gothic horror novella was perfect. Superstitions are real for some and this story leads us on the part of love, loss and draws us into the story. The artwork was sublime. Thank you for having me as part of the team J.K. Divia. I can't wait for more of your writing!
Profile Image for Caroline.
58 reviews
July 8, 2026
This novella takes the reader on a journey through Celtic folklore. It’s a chilling, atmospheric gothic horror that drew me in quickly and held me captive to the end with its beautiful and eerie prose. If you like gothic horror, give this one a go.
Profile Image for Johanna Miller.
160 reviews5 followers
March 18, 2026
If you like gothic, folklore based, dark tales, then this book is for you. It was a quick read, it grips you from the get go and will splash you into a tale of less well known fae folk (there is a pronunciation guide and glossary that is helpful) and interwoven are the relationships between Ember, her grandmother, the village, Finn, and the tie in to how they all fit together. As with everything I’ve read by JK Divia, I could have stayed much longer, but that in no way should imply this wasn’t a satisfactory book. It was achingly heartbreaking, you felt it all right along with the washerwoman, it was beautifully written and touches on many themes, for a short book, this is one that will stay with you for a long time. The art is also well done, it matches with the imagery painted by the words. I received it as an ARC and am grateful for the opportunity.
Profile Image for Reg 🦇.
107 reviews4 followers
May 8, 2026
A captivating and exquisitely ominous folklore horror!
This novella was so layered and ethereal, with a whimsical yet terrifying atmosphere that had me hooked from the first few lines.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the relationships they had with each other. Emer, her Grandmother and Finn were flawed and real and I feel that any reader could see themselves in these characters for various different reasons.
I also valued the way the tension that steadily built was there right from the start, with this uneasy gut feeling that something bad was going to happen.

Haunting and skilfully constructed, Poison the Well was a frighteningly delightful read.

Thank you so much to J.K. Divia for having me on your ARC team 🖤🖤🖤
Profile Image for Mel.
20 reviews
March 12, 2026
This is a short folklore-inspired story.

It’s a quick read that leans into the eerie side of folklore, telling a simple but haunting tale about superstition, curses, and the stories that get passed down through generations.

Sometimes the best stories are the small ones, and this one works well as a bite-sized piece of folklore. It also introduced me to a piece of folklore I hadn’t come across before, which made the story even more interesting.

If you enjoy short, atmospheric reads with a folklore feel.

Profile Image for TalesAndTerracotta.
80 reviews3 followers
June 23, 2026
Thank you first of all J.K. Divia for my gifted ARC of ‘Poison the Well’ - the third interconnected novella released in the Becoming Hamingja series! You’re the loveliest human and i will continue to read every single thing you publish!

This story follows the washerwoman who we meet first, albeit briefly, in ‘A Sea of Blood and Tears’ (which you don’t have to read beforehand, but J highly recommend that you do).

Its a dark mythic retelling of how the frightening creature we know from folklore as the washerwoman came to be, through love and loss. This story, as all of Divia’s writing does, will entwine you, body and soul with its mesmerizing prose and darkly enchanting story.

Divia has an incredible ability to draw you in as a reader into a world where love endures even in the presence of darkness. This unique perspective follows Emer, who has become the nightmarish dark fairy Bean-nighe she was warned about as a child by her beloved Grabdmother… cursed to forever scour the linens of those in death’s doorstep, reliving their memories and their final moments.

This is the perfect book to start your summerween 2026!
Profile Image for Grant.
8 reviews
June 29, 2026
Poison the Well is a hauntingly beautiful tale firmly rooted in folklore. So if you enjoy dark, gothic reads with a folkloric connection this is for you.

Since this is a snappy read with manageable chapters, I flew through this. For a short book, Divia manages to convey the various relationships throughout the book really well in a short time. I particularly liked the relationship between Emer and her grandmother.

This novella treads the line between whimsy and terror, crossing back and forth as you learn Emer's story from childhood origins to becoming the harrowing washerwoman, now fated to wash the clothes of the dead and relive their memories and final moments when she touches the fabric.

Illustrated with lovely artwork throughout, there is also a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book which is very helpful for the names if you are unfamiliar with Gaelic.

A great entry point to anyone looking to read based on Celtic folklore. I was thoroughly drawn in and enchanted by Divia's prose.

This was an ARC review
Profile Image for Liz Fully Booked.
640 reviews46 followers
July 1, 2026
Poison the Well by J. K. Divia is a dark, gothic, Celtic folklore inspired fantasy novella. This popped up on my Instagram feed and looked so intriguing I downloaded and read right there and then.

Emer is an orphan who lives her days washing clothes with her grandmother. The book tells the tale of Emer, her grandmother, and Finn, the hunter’s son who she hopes to marry one day. But it also tells the tale of the Bean-nighe, a Celtic spirit washerwoman who is the harbinger of death, and how she came to be.

This short book is a dark gothic fairytale, and despite its short length, packs a lot in. The storytelling is rich, atmospheric, and wonderfully written. What more can you ask for in a novella? Great read!
Profile Image for Amy.
58 reviews
Read
July 10, 2026
This is a heartbreaking story of love and loss, exploring Celtic mythology or washerwomen - Bean-nighe - and their cursed fate.

Emer, a young woman relives her life as a linen washer for the Cillian Castle clan, besotted by her love for Finn, her childhood best friend and betrothed. We follow her life when she was alive, before she was trapped between the living and the dead, as a bean-nighe, forced to warn others of their imminent deaths.

This is a short non-linear novella, that is atmospheric, dark fantasy horror, full of folk horror, and does well explaining the folklore of this deity, the fae folk and hints of other Celtic legends and culture. JK Divia has more folklore inspired novellas that I cannot wait to consume 🩷
Profile Image for Remy Campbell.
24 reviews
July 2, 2026
This haunting novella floats somewhere in the shadowy space between folklore and horror. While drawing heavily on Celtic mythology, Divia builds her own universe surrounding these legends and creates a rich and complex story that will haunt readers long after they’ve finished. This book can be read alone or as part of Divia’s wider universe.
Profile Image for Athena Reads.
18 reviews
July 19, 2026
Dark and Gothic. This book explores stories of family and loss through time.

I want to thank the amazing J. K. Divia for giving me an ARC of her newest book. This was a very fast but insanely interesting read based on Irish folklore. A was captivated from start to finish and read it all in one day.

At the back of the book, there's a glossary, along with a helpful pronunciation guide for the folklore figures right at the front.
Profile Image for Raven R.
336 reviews3 followers
June 22, 2026
I love how Divia's novellas can create so much in so few pages. I wasn't very familiar with the Celtic washerwoman tale, and this story was full of rich and dark folklore with a little bit of horror that made it so twisty and intriguing. The writing is beautiful and ethereal, the story eerie and mysterious. Different timelines weave together the cost of love and fae bargains and I definitely could have kept reading more. I had no idea where things would end up and I definitely enjoyed it.

"What is time to the other-folk but another one of their traps?"

"For in the end, we are nothing more than memories turned to stories."
Profile Image for Keely Kovacevic.
150 reviews5 followers
June 22, 2026
Is 2026 the year of the novella? Another cracking release under 100 pages, with fully formed characters, rich world building and enough Celtic mythology to satisfy the Queen of the Selkies.

Poison the Well is an interconnected stand alone that follows the washerwoman Emer, a harbinger of death, as she sees out her afterlife washing the grave clothes of people across time. Yearning for an end to her penance and a reunion with the spirits of her loved ones, Emer must accept her fate if she wants a future.

With rich imagery and a narrative that pulls you on to the next page, Poison the Well is a fantastic addition to the becoming hamingja series.
Profile Image for georgia.
27 reviews5 followers
June 23, 2026
This is was beautiful and melancholy story that stems respectfully from Celtic myth. As someone who adores history and mythology, Poison the Well scratched ALL the itches! The prose is impeccably written with enough detail and mystery to draw personal conclusions and find emotional connections for yourself.

J.K Divia was able to fill a small word count with clarity, the horror bleeding through the pages, I was compelled to read until the final sentence.

Very highly recommend for lovers of horror and folk.
Profile Image for Melinda Brown.
Author 2 books1 follower
June 22, 2026
This book includes Celtic folklore and provides a helpful glossary at the back to review unfamiliar terms. I love how the chapters bind together. My emotions switched from curiosity about where the story would take me to sadness, then peace. I loved the stories of Emer and Finn. I highly recommend this to be on your TBR.
Profile Image for Terry.
1,161 reviews36 followers
March 16, 2026
JK Divia has a specific writing talent. The way folklore and then touches of horror is woven together means the story flows so well together.
It makes the story so interesting and good to read.
Definitely go find the other work by this author.
5 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 7, 2026
ARC copy received from author. This is a stunning slab of the richest chocolate...i raced through it but want to go back & really savour it!! So different to anything else out there...a stunning novella...an atmosphere of disquiet throughout...malevolent fae & celtic folklore.
Profile Image for C.T. Whistle.
Author 4 books270 followers
July 8, 2026
I liked this a lot. Super atmospheric and heart achingly bittersweet ❤️‍🩹😮‍💨👵🏼
Profile Image for Heidi Mäkynen.
134 reviews
July 5, 2026
A dark fairytale, retelling of an old myth. With its delicate pacing and back and forth moving timeline, it really kept me spellbound.

ARC received from the author.
Profile Image for Kim Layman.
271 reviews14 followers
May 16, 2026
This beautiful novella is rich in folklore and love.

Emer, our FMC, is trapped as a Bean-nighe, a washerwomen, who cannot be free until she has completed every unfinished task. She washes, and washes, and it is never enough. It seems she is doomed to be stuck in this role indefinitely.

However, every wash has a story, big or small, and Divia takes us on a journey of the deaths of people are connected to Emer-some more intimately than others. The most painful story is about Finn, her childhood sweetheart, who she was parted from too soon.

As each story brings us closer to Emer’s, the truth behind the curse becomes revealed, and the strength of love proves to be the most powerful force of all.

I enjoyed this lovely and sad tale of loss, powerlessness, family, but ultimately, freedom through selflessness. Put this one on your TBR. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to the author for my arc. My opinion is my own.
Profile Image for Emily.
545 reviews4 followers
July 12, 2026
This is the third book I've devoured by J.K. Divia. True to form, this one is rife with dark, atmospheric themes woven around a Celtic folktale. A gothic horror novella, this story may be short, but it's packed with depth. Both the characters and the plot draw the reader in as we're introduced to Ember, her grandmother, and Ember's burgeoning relationship with Finn. Even the village plays an important role in the overall tale, adding to the sense of unease that lingers throughout the story.

This is a great pick for someone who wants a quick yet unsettling read. I cannot emphasize the atmosphere enough. It creeps in slowly, wrapping around every scene and making the setting feel just as alive as the characters. For such a short novella, it leaves a lasting impression and proves you don't need hundreds of pages to tell a haunting story.

Thank you so much to J.K. Divia for the opportunity to read and review this book as an e-ARC.

Profile Image for Samantha L Reads.
45 reviews2 followers
June 22, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. J.K. Divia crafted a short folktale filled with rich lore, excellent pacing, suspense, and a satisfying redemption arc. I honestly couldn’t ask for more. Every element felt thoughtfully done and now I am eager to read more of her work.
This is a beautifully written tale about duty, regret, redemption, and the enduring power of love.
Profile Image for Nikki Zelinski.
37 reviews
June 10, 2026
If you love creepy folklore, and unsettling stories that keep you guessing, this book is a must read.
Eerie folklore with an exciting plot.
The atmosphere is haunting, creating a sense of unease that lingers throughout the story.
With shocking twists, rich folklore, and an amazing plot, this is a book that will stay with you.
Profile Image for Charteir (InkEncountersPaper).
68 reviews
April 2, 2026
Wow! What a cool concept for a book. Folklore, horror, with a sprinkle of a love story. This was a perfect short read for anyone who enjoys emotionally layered psychological horror, ethereal storytelling, curses, and fae folklore. Divia’s way of setting the tone and atmosphere—weaving that whimsical feel with horror elements—is no easy feat and she accomplishes that with ease. There’s a constant undercurrent of tension, like everything is just slightly off, and it builds steadily throughout the narrative. The pacing feels deliberate, which works in the book’s favor, allowing me to feel fully immersed in the complexity of the story.

The characters were another highlight for me. They feel flawed and real, and at times frustrating just watching their mistakes. Their motivations aren’t always clear, which adds to the moral ambiguity that runs throughout the novel. I was often left questioning who to trust, including my own assumptions as a reader. And I especially loved the ending. I also really enjoyed the themes of trust, betrayal, and that ripple effect when you make certain choices that can poison everything else.

Overall, it’s a haunting, well-crafted novel that rewards patience and leaves a lasting impression.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Michelle Pizarro.
222 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2026
This was a retelling of some folklore. Of course there was a moral of the story. I did enjoy how the story went through time, in both directions.
Profile Image for Miranda.
6 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 10, 2026
This was a beautiful and sorrowful Celtic folklore-inspired dark fantasy.

This story includes themes and tropes of nature, dark fae, kingdoms and ruins, death and life, time, promises, bargains, portals, relationships, family, destiny, matriarchy, folklore, horror and gothic tones.

While this is novella length, I feel this book is not meant to be read quickly. You should read it slowly. Re-read paragraphs. Re-read entire pages. Savor it. It is dark and deep. It steps outside the boundaries of time. It reaches into your psyche, memories, daydreams. It is empowering, heartbreaking, provoking but also serene. This story painted such beautiful imagery of the setting. I could sense the sorrow, the weight of legacy and promises, and the regret of deadly bargains.

Choose this when you are ready to sit back with some time for something reflective, but not too hard to read. It’s like choosing the correct bottle of wine for the right time and mood. I absolutely enjoyed this book, the artwork, and the numerous quotes I highlighted. I would read it again.

I received an advance copy from the author for an honest review of this book.
Profile Image for Skye Watt.
48 reviews
March 15, 2026
Poison the Well is loosely based on a Scottish folklore about Bean Nighe or washerwoman depending on what you would like to call her.

J.K Divia done a fabulous job in creating a story based around this folklore and having the ability to put their own spin on such a powerful folklore definitely makes this story more powerful.

Personally I loved the way the characters were introduce in the story as well as the development throughout the book, I
really struggled to put the book down as I was so engrossed in it.

Emer and her Grandmother really solidified this story as it showcased the love between the both of them and really explained what the Washerwoman was and how they come to be.

Watching Emer grow as a person throughout the book was fascinating then seeing the relationship with Finn and Emer really come alive towards the end of the book was so emotional for me, but I was so glad we got to see this side of both of them.

A line that will stick with me is ..
"Be careful of beautiful words. Be careful not to ignore their meaning,"

Thank you for creating this book and allowing me to be an advance reader.
Profile Image for Kelly Maurica.
74 reviews
April 2, 2026
Another great read from J.K. Divia.

It’s no secret that I really enjoy all of the stories woven by J.K Divia. Her ability to create strong female characters whose backstories are complicated, yet quietly resilient, is outstanding.

Poison the Well not only explored the mystery of tales long told, but it unraveled something darker, more intimate, and quietly unsettling.

A washerwoman
The myth,
the lore
and her fate already written in the water.

If you’re drawn to stories that explore the darker side of folklore then this book is for you. Poison the Well is not only a beautifully written tale but an emotionally layered story that infiltrates your bones and sticks to your skin long after you’re finished reading.

It was an absolute pleasure to read this story in advance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews