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Witches of the Wheel
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26In her metaphysical mystery Witches of the Wheel, Lindsay Merbaum weaves a spellbinding tale of mythology, bartending, and queer belonging.
Gold grows up knowing only a few things about herself: something lets her see ghosts and read her neighbors' secrets, and her mother seems to hate her. But when she strikes out on her own, she stumbles into a job at The Wheel, a literally-underground lesbian bar where a coven gathers every Thursday and each entrance requires a painful sacrifice. It feels like the first place she's belonged.
But the bar, its patrons, and its history are more complicated, and more dangerous, than Gold ever realized. As she entangles herself in her new community, she learns more about herself than she wanted to know—and attracts an ancient goddess’s deadly attention.
Praise for Witches of the Wheel
“Oh, what a world Lindsay Merbaum has created. With her words, she’s woven a spell that blooms then burns bright, unveiling a realm of ancient and unending magic. I only wish the novel was as eternal as its characters. My advice to the novice—grab a cocktail, find a cozy, candle-lit alcove, and let the witches and goddesses take the Wheel.” —EV Knight, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Fourth Whore and Three Days in the Pink Tower
“In this intoxicating blend of magical realism, where fairy tales and ancient myths bleed into modern queer life, Gold must navigate a world where bartending is a sacred calling, sacrifice opens doors, and the gods themselves walk among us with their own agendas. As she’s pulled deeper into Babylon’s hidden magical underworld, she discovers that being chosen by a goddess is not a gift but a transformation—one that will demand everything she has and reshape her into something altogether more powerful and more terrifying than human.
For fans of Circe and The City We Became, Witches of the Wheel weaves mythology and desire into a darkly enchanting tale of a young woman discovering that her greatest power lies not in controlling her magic, but in surrendering to what she’s always been meant to become.” —Tracy Cross, author of Rootwork and A Gathering of Weapons
Gold grows up knowing only a few things about herself: something lets her see ghosts and read her neighbors' secrets, and her mother seems to hate her. But when she strikes out on her own, she stumbles into a job at The Wheel, a literally-underground lesbian bar where a coven gathers every Thursday and each entrance requires a painful sacrifice. It feels like the first place she's belonged.
But the bar, its patrons, and its history are more complicated, and more dangerous, than Gold ever realized. As she entangles herself in her new community, she learns more about herself than she wanted to know—and attracts an ancient goddess’s deadly attention.
Praise for Witches of the Wheel
“Oh, what a world Lindsay Merbaum has created. With her words, she’s woven a spell that blooms then burns bright, unveiling a realm of ancient and unending magic. I only wish the novel was as eternal as its characters. My advice to the novice—grab a cocktail, find a cozy, candle-lit alcove, and let the witches and goddesses take the Wheel.” —EV Knight, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Fourth Whore and Three Days in the Pink Tower
“In this intoxicating blend of magical realism, where fairy tales and ancient myths bleed into modern queer life, Gold must navigate a world where bartending is a sacred calling, sacrifice opens doors, and the gods themselves walk among us with their own agendas. As she’s pulled deeper into Babylon’s hidden magical underworld, she discovers that being chosen by a goddess is not a gift but a transformation—one that will demand everything she has and reshape her into something altogether more powerful and more terrifying than human.
For fans of Circe and The City We Became, Witches of the Wheel weaves mythology and desire into a darkly enchanting tale of a young woman discovering that her greatest power lies not in controlling her magic, but in surrendering to what she’s always been meant to become.” —Tracy Cross, author of Rootwork and A Gathering of Weapons
264 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Lindsay Merbaum
5 books102 followersLindsay Merbaum is a queer feminist author, the leader of Pick Your Potions’ Study Coven, and a high priestess of home mixology. A 2021 Foreword Indies Finalist, The Gold Persimmon was her first novel with Creature Publishing. Her second book, a smutty horror-comedy novella called Vampires at Sea, was also a Foreword Indies Finalist and a LibraryReads Bonus Pick. Lindsay lives in Michigan with her partner and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Reading for review in a future issue of Booklist
Three Words That Describe This Book: conversational storytelling, atmospheric, lesbians/goddesses/ witches
I know that last one is three words but they go together.
Other words, immersive, strong sense of place, coming of age, single pov, compelling (but not fast), dark fantasy
Gold had a tough childhood, her mother was borderline abusive, but once her mother realized that Gold had the power to talk to the dead, she used her daughter to make money. But even before her mom monetizes her powers, Gold knew one of the spirits that visited her was older and stronger than the more common ghosts.
After her mom dies suddenly while Gold is still a teenager, she finds shelter, friendship, and a purpose at The Wheel, a lesbian bar, hidden underground, and guarded by an old magic.
Taken in a taught the ways of The Wheel, readers join Gold as she takes it all in. Learns about the ancient history of the bar, the dark and serious power it holds over those in charge, and the coven who meet there weekly. Gold yearns to be accepted. She is looking for a place to belong, a family to be a part of, but she also holds more power than anyone realizes. And her connection to an ancient goddess has the potential to put everything her new friends hold dear at risk. But also, it could save them all.
Gold is forced to make tough choices as she embraces her magic, her connection to the ancient goddess who has been visiting her since she was a child, shakes of her trauma and decides how she is going to live her adult life.
With the conversational storytelling narration from Gold, readers will be immersed in the world and encouraged to sit back and take it all in.
Dark fantasy, queer, witchy feminist vibes, ancient evil, and coming of age story collide in a place (The Wheel) that readers will not soon forget, and wish they could actually visit.
A perfect choice for readers who like Cackle by Harrison, Queen of Teeth by Piper, and Goddess of Filth by Castro. It really is a great mashup of the best of all three of those excellent books.
Three Words That Describe This Book: conversational storytelling, atmospheric, lesbians/goddesses/ witches
I know that last one is three words but they go together.
Other words, immersive, strong sense of place, coming of age, single pov, compelling (but not fast), dark fantasy
Gold had a tough childhood, her mother was borderline abusive, but once her mother realized that Gold had the power to talk to the dead, she used her daughter to make money. But even before her mom monetizes her powers, Gold knew one of the spirits that visited her was older and stronger than the more common ghosts.
After her mom dies suddenly while Gold is still a teenager, she finds shelter, friendship, and a purpose at The Wheel, a lesbian bar, hidden underground, and guarded by an old magic.
Taken in a taught the ways of The Wheel, readers join Gold as she takes it all in. Learns about the ancient history of the bar, the dark and serious power it holds over those in charge, and the coven who meet there weekly. Gold yearns to be accepted. She is looking for a place to belong, a family to be a part of, but she also holds more power than anyone realizes. And her connection to an ancient goddess has the potential to put everything her new friends hold dear at risk. But also, it could save them all.
Gold is forced to make tough choices as she embraces her magic, her connection to the ancient goddess who has been visiting her since she was a child, shakes of her trauma and decides how she is going to live her adult life.
With the conversational storytelling narration from Gold, readers will be immersed in the world and encouraged to sit back and take it all in.
Dark fantasy, queer, witchy feminist vibes, ancient evil, and coming of age story collide in a place (The Wheel) that readers will not soon forget, and wish they could actually visit.
A perfect choice for readers who like Cackle by Harrison, Queen of Teeth by Piper, and Goddess of Filth by Castro. It really is a great mashup of the best of all three of those excellent books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
[many thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the e-arc!]
if i find a book about lesbians, goddesses and witches, i read it and that is that.
what i enjoyed the most about this novel is its atmosphere. it was both overwhelming and gently dreamy, if that makes any sense at all. the author's writing and descriptions just brought me in effortlessly, and it felt both like drowning and floating. the world the author built around many different existing myths felt believable and i loved how there is so much detail and how the information is scattered throughout the story. that may not be for everyone but it worked for me at least!
i think the setting of the wheel (the lesbian witchy bar where basically the whole thing takes place) really had a play in that, since it's so closed-off but also open to both the world of the living and that of the dead (and the in-between, too). i particularly loved how the place was a character in itself!
the cast of characters was overall enjoyable. hela and brenda were my favourites, along with the wheel of course. there are no men whatsoever, at least none that are named and important parts of the story, and i can't help but love that.
however, i admit i sort of hated gold (the main character and narrator). she starts off as a little girl who finds herself full of paranormal powers, and therefore who's being taken advantage of by her mother. understandably, she feels both self-pity and self-loathing, and nothing more. she's more or less a recluse, at any rate, so she doesn't get to learn how society works nor to feel empathy for others. so i guess her behaviour during the rest of the novel, after she finds the wheel and her lesbian witchy colleagues, can be somewhat excused. however, although i did pity her, i couldn't help but wonder why she was so self-centred. she really did not think of anybody else but herself, even when she was longing for love and connection. i find it disappointing that she ends up unchanged, even though so many things happened to her and should have changed her, at least in some ways. plot-wise, her destiny felt inevitable, so the ending was predictable, but still i finished the book satisfied.
in that regard, i think gold should have been much older. there was quite a lot of sexual "action" and imagery throughout the novel, which didn't strike me much at first but became a bit overwhelming at times, most likely because gold is still a child. so, even if the imagery worked, it felt really out of place considering the story resembles a coming-of-age. it feels even less necessary to make gold so young since she hasn't grown by the end of the novel, and also since she didn't feel much like a child at any point except the very beginning.
so overall, that was quite a great book! i would definitely recommend if you're into all-women, all-queer, all-witchy, all-mythology reads! it was a story more centred on atmosphere and background more than literal action, so the pace can feel quite slow, but it is very immersive and addictive for that exact reason.
i am now going to need to read the author's other books asap
if i find a book about lesbians, goddesses and witches, i read it and that is that.
what i enjoyed the most about this novel is its atmosphere. it was both overwhelming and gently dreamy, if that makes any sense at all. the author's writing and descriptions just brought me in effortlessly, and it felt both like drowning and floating. the world the author built around many different existing myths felt believable and i loved how there is so much detail and how the information is scattered throughout the story. that may not be for everyone but it worked for me at least!
i think the setting of the wheel (the lesbian witchy bar where basically the whole thing takes place) really had a play in that, since it's so closed-off but also open to both the world of the living and that of the dead (and the in-between, too). i particularly loved how the place was a character in itself!
the cast of characters was overall enjoyable. hela and brenda were my favourites, along with the wheel of course. there are no men whatsoever, at least none that are named and important parts of the story, and i can't help but love that.
however, i admit i sort of hated gold (the main character and narrator). she starts off as a little girl who finds herself full of paranormal powers, and therefore who's being taken advantage of by her mother. understandably, she feels both self-pity and self-loathing, and nothing more. she's more or less a recluse, at any rate, so she doesn't get to learn how society works nor to feel empathy for others. so i guess her behaviour during the rest of the novel, after she finds the wheel and her lesbian witchy colleagues, can be somewhat excused. however, although i did pity her, i couldn't help but wonder why she was so self-centred. she really did not think of anybody else but herself, even when she was longing for love and connection. i find it disappointing that she ends up unchanged, even though so many things happened to her and should have changed her, at least in some ways. plot-wise, her destiny felt inevitable, so the ending was predictable, but still i finished the book satisfied.
in that regard, i think gold should have been much older. there was quite a lot of sexual "action" and imagery throughout the novel, which didn't strike me much at first but became a bit overwhelming at times, most likely because gold is still a child. so, even if the imagery worked, it felt really out of place considering the story resembles a coming-of-age. it feels even less necessary to make gold so young since she hasn't grown by the end of the novel, and also since she didn't feel much like a child at any point except the very beginning.
so overall, that was quite a great book! i would definitely recommend if you're into all-women, all-queer, all-witchy, all-mythology reads! it was a story more centred on atmosphere and background more than literal action, so the pace can feel quite slow, but it is very immersive and addictive for that exact reason.
i am now going to need to read the author's other books asap
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First thoughts; sweet baby jesus can we please stop talking about penises.
End thoughts; penises still being mentioned too much. That might be a me problem though.
This book started off so, so strong. The characters stood on their own, the scenery was beautifully described, sometimes so acutely that I felt like I could feel the sticky bar top and smell the whiskey being poured. But at some point around three quarters of the way through the story, that acuity disappeared and was replaced with this sense of confusion where reality was slippery and flip flopped around back and forth. There were parts where I couldn’t tell if what was happening on the page was actually happening, or if they were happening in Gold’s mind. Similar to a nonlinear narrative, but also not? The execution was kind of wild.
I drew particular issue with the way time progressed in the narrative. We know that Gold is underage (17) when she first finds The Wheel, and that is literally the only explicit mention of Gold’s age, and it’s also the only clue we’re given about how much time has passed since we opened the book. How old is she at the end of the book? No idea. How long had she been at The Wheel? No idea. How old was Gold when she had her first sexual encounter? Also no idea. Didn’t like that. How old was everybody else? Who knows! Everyone else was just kind of ageless. It was alluded to that Hela was older than most of the other patrons, but that was it.
Even by the end, I didn’t really feel like much of the overarching plot was wrapped up. This character, who had only really just appeared but had been talked about maybe twice previously, has now become completely central to the primary plot and Gold isn’t shouldering all the responsibility anymore, and like good for her on that front, but it really felt like it came out of nowhere.
Also, all of the characters were named after various goddesses, but the only time that’s mentioned is in regards to Gold’s birth name. That’s never explained. Is it coincidence? Dunno. Did they choose their own names? Who knows?
I feel like a lot of information wanted to be implied, but the context clues just weren’t there.
The author gave us a few great deep dives into various ancient gods and practices, all of which read as well researched and put together. Very informative. Really liked that.
Lastly, Gold had such a hard time connecting with literally everyone, and that’s not totally on her obviously; she had some pretty severe trauma from her upbringing. But everyone around her who could have helped her and explained what was happening to her and around her just kept talking in riddles and half truths or just avoided talking altogether instead of just giving Gold the information she needed to know. If I was Gold, I would have started throwing bricks.
End thoughts; penises still being mentioned too much. That might be a me problem though.
This book started off so, so strong. The characters stood on their own, the scenery was beautifully described, sometimes so acutely that I felt like I could feel the sticky bar top and smell the whiskey being poured. But at some point around three quarters of the way through the story, that acuity disappeared and was replaced with this sense of confusion where reality was slippery and flip flopped around back and forth. There were parts where I couldn’t tell if what was happening on the page was actually happening, or if they were happening in Gold’s mind. Similar to a nonlinear narrative, but also not? The execution was kind of wild.
I drew particular issue with the way time progressed in the narrative. We know that Gold is underage (17) when she first finds The Wheel, and that is literally the only explicit mention of Gold’s age, and it’s also the only clue we’re given about how much time has passed since we opened the book. How old is she at the end of the book? No idea. How long had she been at The Wheel? No idea. How old was Gold when she had her first sexual encounter? Also no idea. Didn’t like that. How old was everybody else? Who knows! Everyone else was just kind of ageless. It was alluded to that Hela was older than most of the other patrons, but that was it.
Even by the end, I didn’t really feel like much of the overarching plot was wrapped up. This character, who had only really just appeared but had been talked about maybe twice previously, has now become completely central to the primary plot and Gold isn’t shouldering all the responsibility anymore, and like good for her on that front, but it really felt like it came out of nowhere.
Also, all of the characters were named after various goddesses, but the only time that’s mentioned is in regards to Gold’s birth name. That’s never explained. Is it coincidence? Dunno. Did they choose their own names? Who knows?
I feel like a lot of information wanted to be implied, but the context clues just weren’t there.
The author gave us a few great deep dives into various ancient gods and practices, all of which read as well researched and put together. Very informative. Really liked that.
Lastly, Gold had such a hard time connecting with literally everyone, and that’s not totally on her obviously; she had some pretty severe trauma from her upbringing. But everyone around her who could have helped her and explained what was happening to her and around her just kept talking in riddles and half truths or just avoided talking altogether instead of just giving Gold the information she needed to know. If I was Gold, I would have started throwing bricks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!!
I enjoyed this book. The writing was clean, and the inner monologue was very relatable and realistic. I liked the characters and was able to follow the story for the most part, though I had some trouble understanding the more complex fantastical descriptions. There were a lot of magical hallucinations, strange dreams, and descriptions of goddesses doing weird things. On one hand, it's really cool to read a book written by someone with such a great imagination; on the other hand, struggling to piece together such a bizarre picture is kind of frustrating. Doing it repetitively for the last fourth of the book is even more frustrating, cause it felt like I was just constantly trying to picture these crazy descriptions rather than actually understanding what's going on.
The lore was a bit shaky at times, probably because it stems from real-life myths, which I love, but it makes it harder to work it into a story cause you're kind of trying to bend an already established magic system to fit something new. For the most part, the author did a great job modifying the magic system, but it was a bit hard to grasp at times.
I don't really think there was like a singular conflict. It felt more like a magical coming-of-age than a true fantasy novel, which I didn't mind. Also, most of the book happens at the "Wheel", which is the magic bar, so keep that in mind. This is not like some epic fantasy. Which I actually really liked because I feel like people don't understand that not every fantasy book is a high fantasy, epic fantasy, or contemporary fantasy. Like, yes, give us some variety, please.
Also, I love sexual symbolism as a literary fiction fan, but I just could not get behind the sexual references in this book. It just gets to a point where it feels gratuitous, especially since the main character is an underage teenager illegally working at a bar. All her bar friends are older than her. They're all like real adults who have jobs. In my opinion, the coming-of-age themes read very YA, so the graphic descriptions just feel kind of out of place and unnecessary. I know it's supposed to be her coming into her sexuality, but there are some parts where it's obvious the sexual stuff isn't her choice, really, it's just goddesses messing with her, and that's when it feels like it's just for shock value, which kind of undermines any semblance of "discovering her sexuality". It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
All in all, I liked the book, I liked the lesbian and lgbtq rep, and I hope people give this book some love!
I enjoyed this book. The writing was clean, and the inner monologue was very relatable and realistic. I liked the characters and was able to follow the story for the most part, though I had some trouble understanding the more complex fantastical descriptions. There were a lot of magical hallucinations, strange dreams, and descriptions of goddesses doing weird things. On one hand, it's really cool to read a book written by someone with such a great imagination; on the other hand, struggling to piece together such a bizarre picture is kind of frustrating. Doing it repetitively for the last fourth of the book is even more frustrating, cause it felt like I was just constantly trying to picture these crazy descriptions rather than actually understanding what's going on.
The lore was a bit shaky at times, probably because it stems from real-life myths, which I love, but it makes it harder to work it into a story cause you're kind of trying to bend an already established magic system to fit something new. For the most part, the author did a great job modifying the magic system, but it was a bit hard to grasp at times.
I don't really think there was like a singular conflict. It felt more like a magical coming-of-age than a true fantasy novel, which I didn't mind. Also, most of the book happens at the "Wheel", which is the magic bar, so keep that in mind. This is not like some epic fantasy. Which I actually really liked because I feel like people don't understand that not every fantasy book is a high fantasy, epic fantasy, or contemporary fantasy. Like, yes, give us some variety, please.
Also, I love sexual symbolism as a literary fiction fan, but I just could not get behind the sexual references in this book. It just gets to a point where it feels gratuitous, especially since the main character is an underage teenager illegally working at a bar. All her bar friends are older than her. They're all like real adults who have jobs. In my opinion, the coming-of-age themes read very YA, so the graphic descriptions just feel kind of out of place and unnecessary. I know it's supposed to be her coming into her sexuality, but there are some parts where it's obvious the sexual stuff isn't her choice, really, it's just goddesses messing with her, and that's when it feels like it's just for shock value, which kind of undermines any semblance of "discovering her sexuality". It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
All in all, I liked the book, I liked the lesbian and lgbtq rep, and I hope people give this book some love!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Creature Publishing, and the author for an ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review!
I like to go into a book blind and find my way into the world the author builds, and this one hit me like a freight train, but... I liked it? Witches of the Wheel was definitely a surprise!
I didn't expect as much horror as there was, but I appreciated it and found that it echoed the old myths in many ways. I really loved the trancey dream sequences that echoed the themes, imagery, and pace of the myths that the author draws upon. These dream sequences gave the book added creep factor and also just threw me off-kilter enough to keep me on my toes. The gods of the Ancients were fierce, selfish, and often even brutal, and the world that our protagonist, Gold, inhabits, mirrors that.
In the novel, The Wheel is a lesbian bar / site of magic power where Gold starts to work at age 17 and is a character itself. Much of the book takes place at or near this bar and the author does a great job of keeping this single location interesting. The bar honestly sounds like heaven. I mean there are auto-refilling alcohol bottles, ghosts, it's a magic hotspot, and it's full of sapphic witches. This is what we deserve.
All that said, I was (and still am) a bit unsure if this took place in a semi-dystopian future, or some alternate universe, or if it is meant to be taking place in the not too distant past. However, this doesn't really change my enjoyment of the story, it was just something I would think about from time to time. It was especially confusing to me at the beginning of the book when I considered her mom's "job" of selling medicines like inhalers or Epi-pens. Like, where would you live where these things weren't readily accessible? But then I thought, oh... right. LOLBCI
Look, at the end of the day, if a book gives me lesbians, goddesses, and magic, I'm there.
I like to go into a book blind and find my way into the world the author builds, and this one hit me like a freight train, but... I liked it? Witches of the Wheel was definitely a surprise!
I didn't expect as much horror as there was, but I appreciated it and found that it echoed the old myths in many ways. I really loved the trancey dream sequences that echoed the themes, imagery, and pace of the myths that the author draws upon. These dream sequences gave the book added creep factor and also just threw me off-kilter enough to keep me on my toes. The gods of the Ancients were fierce, selfish, and often even brutal, and the world that our protagonist, Gold, inhabits, mirrors that.
In the novel, The Wheel is a lesbian bar / site of magic power where Gold starts to work at age 17 and is a character itself. Much of the book takes place at or near this bar and the author does a great job of keeping this single location interesting. The bar honestly sounds like heaven. I mean there are auto-refilling alcohol bottles, ghosts, it's a magic hotspot, and it's full of sapphic witches. This is what we deserve.
All that said, I was (and still am) a bit unsure if this took place in a semi-dystopian future, or some alternate universe, or if it is meant to be taking place in the not too distant past. However, this doesn't really change my enjoyment of the story, it was just something I would think about from time to time. It was especially confusing to me at the beginning of the book when I considered her mom's "job" of selling medicines like inhalers or Epi-pens. Like, where would you live where these things weren't readily accessible? But then I thought, oh... right. LOLBCI
Look, at the end of the day, if a book gives me lesbians, goddesses, and magic, I'm there.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I truly hate to say it, but I didn’t like this novel. I mean that; this novel had a lot of promise and I genuinely wanted to like it.
The vibes are great, the atmosphere of…..everything. I loved the setting of the magical bar that was essentially its own character (until later in the book when I didn’t anymore). There were many neat elements, and the first 1/3 had me flipping pages wanting to know what was next.
The whole book wasn’t very interesting though? The start was too long without much happening, the middle was dull, and the ending third was just somewhat random and disjointed and didn’t match the previous parts of the novel. I simply found that I couldn’t care or get invested in the story.
That ending; was it happy? Sad or something else? The random character showing up near the end and utterly taking over the story was a strange choice, and I still don’t know if it was supposed to be a good thing. Also HOW can a protagonist go through so much and come out the other side with zero character development of any kind?
I'm sad because this was a missed opportunity; if it was simply bad then I would have moved on without really caring nearly as much. I will probably give the author another shot on another novel.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
The vibes are great, the atmosphere of…..everything. I loved the setting of the magical bar that was essentially its own character (until later in the book when I didn’t anymore). There were many neat elements, and the first 1/3 had me flipping pages wanting to know what was next.
The whole book wasn’t very interesting though? The start was too long without much happening, the middle was dull, and the ending third was just somewhat random and disjointed and didn’t match the previous parts of the novel. I simply found that I couldn’t care or get invested in the story.
That ending; was it happy? Sad or something else? The random character showing up near the end and utterly taking over the story was a strange choice, and I still don’t know if it was supposed to be a good thing. Also HOW can a protagonist go through so much and come out the other side with zero character development of any kind?
I'm sad because this was a missed opportunity; if it was simply bad then I would have moved on without really caring nearly as much. I will probably give the author another shot on another novel.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Netgalley ARC
I really wanted to enjoy this book—the premise had so much potential—but the execution just didn’t land for me. The pacing felt drawn out, with excessive detail and backstory that made it hard to stay engaged. Instead of pulling me in, it often felt overwhelming and repetitive, leaning more toward telling than showing.
My biggest issue was the main character, Gold. Whether intentional or not, I found her deeply unlikable and difficult to connect with. Her constant self-pity and lack of meaningful growth made it hard to care about what happened to her, which ultimately affected my overall investment in the story.
There were a few bright spots: some side characters were genuinely interesting, and I found myself wishing the story had focused more on them instead. Unfortunately, the world-building didn’t stand out much either, and as someone familiar with tarot and witchcraft, certain elements felt inaccurate and distracting.
The writing style itself isn’t necessarily bad, but being in first person made Gold’s voice dominate the experience in a way that didn’t work for me. While I can see how this book might appeal to others, it just wasn’t for me, and I can’t recommend it.
I really wanted to enjoy this book—the premise had so much potential—but the execution just didn’t land for me. The pacing felt drawn out, with excessive detail and backstory that made it hard to stay engaged. Instead of pulling me in, it often felt overwhelming and repetitive, leaning more toward telling than showing.
My biggest issue was the main character, Gold. Whether intentional or not, I found her deeply unlikable and difficult to connect with. Her constant self-pity and lack of meaningful growth made it hard to care about what happened to her, which ultimately affected my overall investment in the story.
There were a few bright spots: some side characters were genuinely interesting, and I found myself wishing the story had focused more on them instead. Unfortunately, the world-building didn’t stand out much either, and as someone familiar with tarot and witchcraft, certain elements felt inaccurate and distracting.
The writing style itself isn’t necessarily bad, but being in first person made Gold’s voice dominate the experience in a way that didn’t work for me. While I can see how this book might appeal to others, it just wasn’t for me, and I can’t recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My biggest problem with this book is that you CANNOT get me to care about Gold. At literally no point in this entire book did I care what was happening to her.
If this we're not an ARC I would have dnf'd it, but unfortunately I did finished the whole thing.
Not all of the characters were bad. Many of them were flat, but a lot of them were genuinely interesting. It's probably the only thing I really liked in here. Honestly I would have preferred reading Lottie's or Brenda's stories to whatever this was.
The world was honestly not that interesting either, and as a practicing witch, some bits of the magic were just a nightmare to read. It should not be that hard to write an accurate tarot reading when you being up tarot cards so much in the book.
The writing style also was annoying to read, but I don't think that's because the author has a bad style; I think it's because Gold was so insufferable and the book is in first person so it kinda bled through.
It's certainly not the worst book ever and someone will surely enjoy this, but I did not like it at all.
(I received a free copy for review)
If this we're not an ARC I would have dnf'd it, but unfortunately I did finished the whole thing.
Not all of the characters were bad. Many of them were flat, but a lot of them were genuinely interesting. It's probably the only thing I really liked in here. Honestly I would have preferred reading Lottie's or Brenda's stories to whatever this was.
The world was honestly not that interesting either, and as a practicing witch, some bits of the magic were just a nightmare to read. It should not be that hard to write an accurate tarot reading when you being up tarot cards so much in the book.
The writing style also was annoying to read, but I don't think that's because the author has a bad style; I think it's because Gold was so insufferable and the book is in first person so it kinda bled through.
It's certainly not the worst book ever and someone will surely enjoy this, but I did not like it at all.
(I received a free copy for review)
June 23, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for this ARC! The premise sounded really interesting and I usually love a good witch story, but unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me.
I think this was meant to be a coming-of-age story, but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t connect with Gold as a character. I found her really self-pitying and I kept waiting for some growth that never fully felt like it happened by the end.
I also think the pacing at the start worked against it a little for me. I feel like it could have been more interesting to begin with Gold finding the bar and then weave her backstory in naturally throughout the story, rather than spending the first few chapters on exposition before the plot really got going.
There were things I liked though. Some of the side characters were interesting and I thought the atmosphere was written well. I just never found myself fully invested in the story overall, which was disappointing because the premise had a lot of potential.
I think this was meant to be a coming-of-age story, but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t connect with Gold as a character. I found her really self-pitying and I kept waiting for some growth that never fully felt like it happened by the end.
I also think the pacing at the start worked against it a little for me. I feel like it could have been more interesting to begin with Gold finding the bar and then weave her backstory in naturally throughout the story, rather than spending the first few chapters on exposition before the plot really got going.
There were things I liked though. Some of the side characters were interesting and I thought the atmosphere was written well. I just never found myself fully invested in the story overall, which was disappointing because the premise had a lot of potential.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i really wanted to enjoy this book but the further i got into it the less i cared about what was going on because it just droned on and on with no real purpose it felt like. there were moments that felt very unnecessary to the plot and so much detailed description of certain moments that it felt redundant but also almost overwhelming and confusing. the main character, gold, genuinely does not have one single redeemable character quality and maybe that was on purpose but i found her to not only be insufferable but also deeply unkind and incapable of feeling mostly anything than self pity. the development of her character was slim to none which in the end made me not able to enjoy the book that much more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this ebook. Witches of the Wheel feels like Hot Girl Fiction but if it had a happier ending than most. I was enthralled right from the beginning and I absolutely loved the atmosphere. Gold was so relatable in her chaos and desperation to belong. Sometimes you don’t realize how lonely you are until you lose something you hate.
I loved Gold’s journey from becoming someone made small into true power and acceptance. The imagery was beautiful and so strong. The Wheel had such a personality and all of the character descriptions made them feel like real people. I really admired the world building and I loved how we never truly understood Babylon. I would highly recommend to anyone that ever had a love for mythology and folklore growing up like I did.
I loved Gold’s journey from becoming someone made small into true power and acceptance. The imagery was beautiful and so strong. The Wheel had such a personality and all of the character descriptions made them feel like real people. I really admired the world building and I loved how we never truly understood Babylon. I would highly recommend to anyone that ever had a love for mythology and folklore growing up like I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I devoured this book. The prose and dialogue was smooth and engrossing. I immediately felt connected to our main character and invested in her well being as no one else in her life was. The foreshadowing was well done and intriguing. The cast of supporting characters felt so distinct and well developed!and I liked the mythology woven into the story and the lore of the bar. I felt the ending came around too suddenly and felt a little deflated by the build up but it was an immersive read and it was still enjoyable. I love a book about what you’d be willing to give up to find a place you belong and live a fulfilling life!
Thank you Net Galley, Creature Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read and review the book!
Thank you Net Galley, Creature Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read and review the book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given an advanced copy of this book by its amazing author.
Every time I pick one on Lindsay Merbaum’s books I’m blown away. The writing pulls you in instantly and I’m always unable to put it down.
As an author she made me go through a rollercoaster of feelings for the main character Gold, including but not limited to, intense dislike for her utter audacity, pity for her horrible childhood, and hope that she would find herself.
Overall 5 stars and on my recommendation list to others!
Every time I pick one on Lindsay Merbaum’s books I’m blown away. The writing pulls you in instantly and I’m always unable to put it down.
As an author she made me go through a rollercoaster of feelings for the main character Gold, including but not limited to, intense dislike for her utter audacity, pity for her horrible childhood, and hope that she would find herself.
Overall 5 stars and on my recommendation list to others!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Spoiler-free review
There is strong surrealism in many areas of this book. From the quite gritty opening of Gold as a child to a woman who deals in all manner of dodgy things, only caring if it is possible to monetise it, to the discovery of the bar, and the interludes of Inanna and Sharon.... it is easy to feel like Alice, falling down and down and down... the vision/magic scenes in particular were hard to envision and make sense of.
The epilogue had a tone like it was wrapping things up, but I personally still have many questions left unanswered 🤷♀️
There is strong surrealism in many areas of this book. From the quite gritty opening of Gold as a child to a woman who deals in all manner of dodgy things, only caring if it is possible to monetise it, to the discovery of the bar, and the interludes of Inanna and Sharon.... it is easy to feel like Alice, falling down and down and down... the vision/magic scenes in particular were hard to envision and make sense of.
The epilogue had a tone like it was wrapping things up, but I personally still have many questions left unanswered 🤷♀️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Creature Publishing, and the author for providing an eARC for early review.
A world of witches, covens, and a pub that bridges reality with the underworld of Hades & Persephone should have kept me on the edge of my seat. I found the story lacking in much to keep my interest. The backstory is painfully long. When things get rolling about midway through we meet ghosts, multiple goddesses, and bar patrons who don't provide any cohesion to the story.
For readers who like retellings in long form this may be an enjoyable tale but it wasn't for me.
A world of witches, covens, and a pub that bridges reality with the underworld of Hades & Persephone should have kept me on the edge of my seat. I found the story lacking in much to keep my interest. The backstory is painfully long. When things get rolling about midway through we meet ghosts, multiple goddesses, and bar patrons who don't provide any cohesion to the story.
For readers who like retellings in long form this may be an enjoyable tale but it wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
3.5 ⭐️ Based on the synopsis I thought this book would be very different. I found the sexual references to be not my cup of tea and the story left me wanting more and I figured the plot would go in a different direction.
A book that started really well with a girl being used and exploited for her a gifts then finding a place she felt safe and at home only for it to all turn upside down. Was confusing but a quick read and one I wanted to finish hoping things would change in the story.
A book that started really well with a girl being used and exploited for her a gifts then finding a place she felt safe and at home only for it to all turn upside down. Was confusing but a quick read and one I wanted to finish hoping things would change in the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I got this advanced copy from Netgalley. Ultimately, it's a nice coming of age story where the main character is discovering multiple facets of their identity: who they are as a woman, who they are as a witch, and who they are as part of the LGBTQ+ community. These aspects can be very relatable, while others were a bit confusing to grasp like the more magical/dreamlike scenes. Overall, this is a very nice, quick read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for my copy of Witches of the Wheel.
I really really loved the idea of this book. However, it felt somehow both rushed and painstakingly detailed. I think maybe this book would've been better had it been longer.
Our main character, Gold, was a fairly standard "unlikable protagonist". I thought she was maybe a little flat as I didn't feel any real change from her.
All in all not a bad story, but it's not one I'd reach for again or necessarily recommend
I really really loved the idea of this book. However, it felt somehow both rushed and painstakingly detailed. I think maybe this book would've been better had it been longer.
Our main character, Gold, was a fairly standard "unlikable protagonist". I thought she was maybe a little flat as I didn't feel any real change from her.
All in all not a bad story, but it's not one I'd reach for again or necessarily recommend
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
For the first half, maaaaaaybe two thirds of this book, I was engaged. I'm not sure I was liking the story, but I was certainly happy to see where it went. The closer we got the end, the more I just switched off. If it had been more about Gold's magic, and if she'd grown as a character with this, I think I would have enjoyed it.
Also: far too many unnecessary penises.
For the first half, maaaaaaybe two thirds of this book, I was engaged. I'm not sure I was liking the story, but I was certainly happy to see where it went. The closer we got the end, the more I just switched off. If it had been more about Gold's magic, and if she'd grown as a character with this, I think I would have enjoyed it.
Also: far too many unnecessary penises.
May 5, 2026
More so 4.5 stars!
This was such an interesting read. It sucked me in and kept me going. From the mythology to the lesbians, I was entranced.
This was my first of Merbaum, but I will be going back for more.
I did receive an ARC from NetGalley :-)
This was such an interesting read. It sucked me in and kept me going. From the mythology to the lesbians, I was entranced.
This was my first of Merbaum, but I will be going back for more.
I did receive an ARC from NetGalley :-)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a delightful read, a coming-of-age story about a girl with special powers in a small, Midwestern town who escapes a difficult childhood and discovers a magical lesbian bar frequented by witches and other fascinating characters. The main character's emotional arc as she learns to trust other people and harness her powers is poignant and satisfying, carrying the reader through the story as things in her life get wilder and weirder. The story goes in unexpected directions, weaving ghosts and ancient goddesses together with modern-day witches and queer culture, subverting classic fairy-tale expectations and binaries, including good and evil and masculine and feminine. I learned a lot about mythology, too! Grab a copy of this book, mix a cocktail or mocktail (the author provides recipes for custom cocktails and mocktails based on her books on her website https://www.pick-your-potions.com/), and settle in for a story that will remind you of the magic that lurks in the cracks of our world.
June 13, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy received from NetGalley
2.25 ⭐️ The story starts with so much promise but becomes chaotic with too many side stories and practically zero character development. Although lore was seemly well researched, it never meshed with the story line in any focused way. As much as I started to care for the character as a child, that also didn’t go anywhere and was a struggle to finish.
2.25 ⭐️ The story starts with so much promise but becomes chaotic with too many side stories and practically zero character development. Although lore was seemly well researched, it never meshed with the story line in any focused way. As much as I started to care for the character as a child, that also didn’t go anywhere and was a struggle to finish.
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