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Witch’s Favor
Tropes & Themes: Dark Fantasy | WLW/Sapphic Subplot | Found Family | Morally Grey Characters | Body Horror | Invasive Blood Magic | Grimdark / Dark Fantasy Stakes | High Angst | Tragic
No witch has ever escaped the Forge — a hijacked cruise ship where witches mutilate the dead into monsters and harvest what remains into weapons. The reward? To live long enough for their own magic to kill them.
But death keeps passing Dylan by.
Dylan has survived because her unique blood allows her to extend the lives of those she loves. The catch? The ritual binds them emotionally, forcing her to feel every private desire. Terrified her found family will reject her for the invasive bond, she keeps it a secret—even from Sarai, the girl she loves.
When Dylan's best friend is sent to the one place her blood can't save him, Sarai plans a desperate heist with dying criminals to escape the ship. A heist that only Dylan can pull off. But in a pressure cooker of blood and betrayal, keeping her secrets hidden may prove impossible... and her truth may destroy them all.
No witch has ever escaped the Forge — a hijacked cruise ship where witches mutilate the dead into monsters and harvest what remains into weapons. The reward? To live long enough for their own magic to kill them.
But death keeps passing Dylan by.
Dylan has survived because her unique blood allows her to extend the lives of those she loves. The catch? The ritual binds them emotionally, forcing her to feel every private desire. Terrified her found family will reject her for the invasive bond, she keeps it a secret—even from Sarai, the girl she loves.
When Dylan's best friend is sent to the one place her blood can't save him, Sarai plans a desperate heist with dying criminals to escape the ship. A heist that only Dylan can pull off. But in a pressure cooker of blood and betrayal, keeping her secrets hidden may prove impossible... and her truth may destroy them all.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2026
About the author
Victoria Szalay
3 books21 followersVictoria Szalay can’t sit still when she reads a good book. Whenever a scene takes a turn, she sets the book down, turns the music up, and then runs around her house imagining all the ways it could’ve gone sideways. (It drives her family crazy.)
She writes for that same rush, crafting plot-driven urban fantasy and spicy paranormal romance within the Skadra universe. During the day, Victoria works as a computer engineer. She loves dogs, cats, and videos of people who own tarantulas.
She writes for that same rush, crafting plot-driven urban fantasy and spicy paranormal romance within the Skadra universe. During the day, Victoria works as a computer engineer. She loves dogs, cats, and videos of people who own tarantulas.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
"ᴀꜱ ꜰᴀʀ ᴀꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ, ꜰᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴇ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱɪᴍɪʟᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴋʏ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ."
💚 An empath witch who's also a potioneer (yes, she's multitalented)
💚 Another witch who doesn't know about her ability
💚 Third person single POV
💚 Found family but they're all prisoners
💚 What if you could possess anyone?
💚 Sapphic YA with a little kissy kissy
💚 Soft cliffhanger
The first time I read about an empath, it was in a sapphic book.
The second time I read about an empath, it was another sapphic book.
Looks like me × girls × empaths is a thing now. Not complaining tho.
This is the second book by Victoria Szalay that I've read after TCWA. She even offered me the chance to be a beta reader, but I declined because I don't have the time, even though I love women and already knew I enjoyed Szalay's writing. So if you're tired of ARC reviews that do nothing but praise a book, I can assure you this review is objective.
First of all, Witch's Favor is one of those books where you can tell the author poured her soul into every page. The dedication alone says so. This story has clearly lived in her head for YEARS, and the amount of detail in the worldbuilding is impressive. Even the map was so complicated that I eventually gave up trying to understand it and was like, meh, I'll go with the flow.
Honestly Szalay doesn't even need the map. She explains the world beautifully through the writing, even while telling the story through just one character: an orphan girl named Dylan, who has spent her entire life sheltered aboard a massive ass ship called The Forge, where she's forced to work for an evil fae and their army of orcs.
This isn't a meet cute situation. By the time we meet Dylan, she's already built a family among the other prisoners, including a 12 y.o seer named Louella, who can read your future through bones and cards. I expected her to be the stereotypical kid in zombie movies who only cries and gets everyone killed, but Lou was actually tolerable. She doesn't have the biggest role in the story, but she never annoyed me. She's just a normal kid, and I could tell she's the glue holding this little family together.
"𝙄𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙣𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚; 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙."
Next is another girl around Dylan's age: Sarai, Dylan's longtime crush. I sympathized with Sarai immediately when the author mentioned she's so tiny that Lou is already taller than her. As a fellow pocket sized girl, I wanted to high five her. Sarai is gentle and loves animals. 9/10 would bet she'll become an amazing veterinarian. 10/10 would absolutely steal your cat's attention.
"𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢, 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙞 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙... 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚."
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: nobody writes yearning like sapphic authors. I'm not even a YA fan, but the angst in this book got me. There were moments where I actually had to stop reading and just sigh. It hurt in the most delicious way. I love emotionally torturing my fragile little heart with unrequited love.
"𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝘿𝙮𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩, 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚'𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤."
Then we get a boy who creates a love triangle-ish situation ... Except it's not really a love triangle (yea, it's complicated), Micah. If you're someone who hates love triangles like I do, don't worry. Micah is incredibly sweet, and this is coming from someone who will throw a book across the room if a man shows up too much in a sapphic novel. He's not your enemy.
Dylan's own ego is.
As I'm writing this, I'm still fuming. My head hurts, my eyes are sore from reading too much, and the author definitely owes me some Tylenol.
The problem with Dylan is that she's constantly battling her own paranoia, and losing. Her past has left her incapable of trusting anyone. She's always afraid she isn't enough or that people will hate her once they learn her true identity. This conflict is repeated over and over again. She had countless opportunities to communicate. To be honest with her friends. But nope.
Forget biting my nails. I'd be chewing on the Forge's deck if I were there.
"𝘽𝙪𝙩... 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮."
Okie, Dee ... But look who you ended up hurting because of your choices ;))
This came dangerously close to becoming a miscommunication trope than I'm personally comfortable with. When Dylan finally laid all her cards on the table and explained herself, I kept asking what exactly made her so terrified that she couldn't trust her own FRIENDS? Not strangers. Not sus people. Her FRIENDS.
Dylan has the "I'll do everything myself" mindset I wanted to grab her shoulders and yell stop it, you brat!!! Have you tried ... Asking for help? I don't think I can forgive what she did to poor Lou and to another character who sacrificed far too much. Her decisions didn't make sense to me, and reckless protagonists always give me a headache.
Like I said, I'm pissed.
"𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙣. 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪?"
This character's anger was completely justified, and I was cheering when they confronted her because, I'm sorry, Dylan baby, your trauma doesn't automatically entitle you to forgiveness. All I could think was yeahhh you deserved that ;)) I literally finished this book with a frown deeper than the Mariana Trench. Even the villain didn't annoy me as much as she did. Thanks, Dylan.
Dylan aside, Witch's Favor is still a good book. I do think it could've used a little more tension. At times the stakes felt low. Some sections, like the possession arc, had me completely hooked. Other parts focused on routine in ways that a little boring. Would I still recommend it? Yessss, BUT I'd recommend reading TCWA first.
One weakness of the book is that the author doesn't fully explain some important aspects of the worldbuilding. Take the concept of "Favor" for example. It's central to the conflict, yet it's never properly defined. It's an original and interesting concept, and it deserved a clearer explanation. A glossary would've helped too. I'd much rather have a little repetition than be left with vague concepts. If I were a brand new reader, I'd be very, very confused, and that would be a shame because this world is rich and absolutely worth visiting.
One thing's for sure, Dylan needs either a really good grovel or a therapist. Or both.
Now, where's my Tylenol, dear author?
💚 An empath witch who's also a potioneer (yes, she's multitalented)
💚 Another witch who doesn't know about her ability
💚 Third person single POV
💚 Found family but they're all prisoners
💚 What if you could possess anyone?
💚 Sapphic YA with a little kissy kissy
💚 Soft cliffhanger
The first time I read about an empath, it was in a sapphic book.
The second time I read about an empath, it was another sapphic book.
Looks like me × girls × empaths is a thing now. Not complaining tho.
This is the second book by Victoria Szalay that I've read after TCWA. She even offered me the chance to be a beta reader, but I declined because I don't have the time, even though I love women and already knew I enjoyed Szalay's writing. So if you're tired of ARC reviews that do nothing but praise a book, I can assure you this review is objective.
First of all, Witch's Favor is one of those books where you can tell the author poured her soul into every page. The dedication alone says so. This story has clearly lived in her head for YEARS, and the amount of detail in the worldbuilding is impressive. Even the map was so complicated that I eventually gave up trying to understand it and was like, meh, I'll go with the flow.
Honestly Szalay doesn't even need the map. She explains the world beautifully through the writing, even while telling the story through just one character: an orphan girl named Dylan, who has spent her entire life sheltered aboard a massive ass ship called The Forge, where she's forced to work for an evil fae and their army of orcs.
This isn't a meet cute situation. By the time we meet Dylan, she's already built a family among the other prisoners, including a 12 y.o seer named Louella, who can read your future through bones and cards. I expected her to be the stereotypical kid in zombie movies who only cries and gets everyone killed, but Lou was actually tolerable. She doesn't have the biggest role in the story, but she never annoyed me. She's just a normal kid, and I could tell she's the glue holding this little family together.
"𝙄𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙣𝙤 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚; 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙."
Next is another girl around Dylan's age: Sarai, Dylan's longtime crush. I sympathized with Sarai immediately when the author mentioned she's so tiny that Lou is already taller than her. As a fellow pocket sized girl, I wanted to high five her. Sarai is gentle and loves animals. 9/10 would bet she'll become an amazing veterinarian. 10/10 would absolutely steal your cat's attention.
"𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢, 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙞 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙... 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚."
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: nobody writes yearning like sapphic authors. I'm not even a YA fan, but the angst in this book got me. There were moments where I actually had to stop reading and just sigh. It hurt in the most delicious way. I love emotionally torturing my fragile little heart with unrequited love.
"𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝘿𝙮𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩, 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚'𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤."
Then we get a boy who creates a love triangle-ish situation ... Except it's not really a love triangle (yea, it's complicated), Micah. If you're someone who hates love triangles like I do, don't worry. Micah is incredibly sweet, and this is coming from someone who will throw a book across the room if a man shows up too much in a sapphic novel. He's not your enemy.
Dylan's own ego is.
As I'm writing this, I'm still fuming. My head hurts, my eyes are sore from reading too much, and the author definitely owes me some Tylenol.
The problem with Dylan is that she's constantly battling her own paranoia, and losing. Her past has left her incapable of trusting anyone. She's always afraid she isn't enough or that people will hate her once they learn her true identity. This conflict is repeated over and over again. She had countless opportunities to communicate. To be honest with her friends. But nope.
Forget biting my nails. I'd be chewing on the Forge's deck if I were there.
"𝘽𝙪𝙩... 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮."
Okie, Dee ... But look who you ended up hurting because of your choices ;))
This came dangerously close to becoming a miscommunication trope than I'm personally comfortable with. When Dylan finally laid all her cards on the table and explained herself, I kept asking what exactly made her so terrified that she couldn't trust her own FRIENDS? Not strangers. Not sus people. Her FRIENDS.
Dylan has the "I'll do everything myself" mindset I wanted to grab her shoulders and yell stop it, you brat!!! Have you tried ... Asking for help? I don't think I can forgive what she did to poor Lou and to another character who sacrificed far too much. Her decisions didn't make sense to me, and reckless protagonists always give me a headache.
Like I said, I'm pissed.
"𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙣. 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪?"
This character's anger was completely justified, and I was cheering when they confronted her because, I'm sorry, Dylan baby, your trauma doesn't automatically entitle you to forgiveness. All I could think was yeahhh you deserved that ;)) I literally finished this book with a frown deeper than the Mariana Trench. Even the villain didn't annoy me as much as she did. Thanks, Dylan.
Dylan aside, Witch's Favor is still a good book. I do think it could've used a little more tension. At times the stakes felt low. Some sections, like the possession arc, had me completely hooked. Other parts focused on routine in ways that a little boring. Would I still recommend it? Yessss, BUT I'd recommend reading TCWA first.
One weakness of the book is that the author doesn't fully explain some important aspects of the worldbuilding. Take the concept of "Favor" for example. It's central to the conflict, yet it's never properly defined. It's an original and interesting concept, and it deserved a clearer explanation. A glossary would've helped too. I'd much rather have a little repetition than be left with vague concepts. If I were a brand new reader, I'd be very, very confused, and that would be a shame because this world is rich and absolutely worth visiting.
One thing's for sure, Dylan needs either a really good grovel or a therapist. Or both.
Now, where's my Tylenol, dear author?
August 12, 2026
What a great story!
This is the kind of book that has you on the edge of your seat, feeling every emotion you can think of. I loved the characters and all their flaws, the relationships between them, and how the story progressed and developed as it went on. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before, it was really unique and I enjoyed it a lot!
Thank you for the ARC.
This is the kind of book that has you on the edge of your seat, feeling every emotion you can think of. I loved the characters and all their flaws, the relationships between them, and how the story progressed and developed as it went on. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before, it was really unique and I enjoyed it a lot!
Thank you for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book before its release!
A captivating story, very unlike what I've recently read in the best way possible.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how effortlessly it pulled me into its characters. I don't usually gravitate toward stories with younger protagonists, but here they felt believable and emotionally grounded. Rather than finding their decisions frustrating, I understood why they reacted the way they did based on their age and experiences. More than once I found myself feeling almost like an older sister reading their story, especially when it came to Dylan. Their fears, hopes, and emotions felt genuine, and that made it easy to become invested.
I also really enjoyed the group dynamic. The relationships between the characters felt natural, and I honestly would have loved to spend even more time learning about each of them and their pasts. They were interesting enough that I wanted more than what was on the page, which is always a good sign.
The writing itself flowed incredibly well. It struck a nice balance between giving enough lore to keep me engaged without overwhelming me with information. At the same time, I do wish the story had offered a little more context about the world surrounding the characters. There were plenty of intriguing hints scattered throughout, but I would have appreciated a brief foundation early on. What exactly is this ship? How did these people end up here? What is the Warden's true purpose? I wasn't looking for every mystery to be explained, but a few more signposts at the beginning would have made it easier to settle into the setting before diving into the larger questions.
The pacing also deserves credit. At around 360 pages, the novel never overstayed its welcome or felt rushed. It told exactly the story it needed to tell, leaving me satisfied while still wishing I could have spent a little longer with both the characters and their world.
A captivating story, very unlike what I've recently read in the best way possible.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how effortlessly it pulled me into its characters. I don't usually gravitate toward stories with younger protagonists, but here they felt believable and emotionally grounded. Rather than finding their decisions frustrating, I understood why they reacted the way they did based on their age and experiences. More than once I found myself feeling almost like an older sister reading their story, especially when it came to Dylan. Their fears, hopes, and emotions felt genuine, and that made it easy to become invested.
I also really enjoyed the group dynamic. The relationships between the characters felt natural, and I honestly would have loved to spend even more time learning about each of them and their pasts. They were interesting enough that I wanted more than what was on the page, which is always a good sign.
The writing itself flowed incredibly well. It struck a nice balance between giving enough lore to keep me engaged without overwhelming me with information. At the same time, I do wish the story had offered a little more context about the world surrounding the characters. There were plenty of intriguing hints scattered throughout, but I would have appreciated a brief foundation early on. What exactly is this ship? How did these people end up here? What is the Warden's true purpose? I wasn't looking for every mystery to be explained, but a few more signposts at the beginning would have made it easier to settle into the setting before diving into the larger questions.
The pacing also deserves credit. At around 360 pages, the novel never overstayed its welcome or felt rushed. It told exactly the story it needed to tell, leaving me satisfied while still wishing I could have spent a little longer with both the characters and their world.
Review of advance copy
Witch's Favor by Victoria Szalay is a thoroughly good read. A tale born of lost hope and desperate need, the narrative dives into a world where humans, witches, elves, and other magical beings shape the core of the conflict. Our main female character, Dylan, once entangled in a wicked scheme by elves to entrap witches to do their bidding, must fight everything she has known all her life to free herself and those closest to her.
With deception and heavy betrayal running throughout, the narrative is effortlessly gripping. The emotional push-and-pull keeps readers completely invested as Dylan navigates impossible choices between duty and desire.
Unexpected twists and turns keep the pacing sharp and flowing, bringing a fresh wave of hope or heartbreak with each reveal.
As the first installment in The Favor Trilogy, it sets the stage for an unforgettable journey ahead while promising even deeper revelations to come.
There are two powerful sides to this journey: a battle for freedom and the pursuit of love. Dylan has only ever known the life she's lived, set apart from her friends, yet she chooses to help them in the only way she knows how, even when the path is intrusive.
As characters like Callum and Clea enter the fray, the dynamics shift in unexpected ways. Secrets will be unveiled and relationships will be torn apart along the way.
Be ready to finish this in one sitting. Once you start, you simply will not want to put it down.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves immersive fantasy, high stakes, and captivating character-driven stories.
With deception and heavy betrayal running throughout, the narrative is effortlessly gripping. The emotional push-and-pull keeps readers completely invested as Dylan navigates impossible choices between duty and desire.
Unexpected twists and turns keep the pacing sharp and flowing, bringing a fresh wave of hope or heartbreak with each reveal.
As the first installment in The Favor Trilogy, it sets the stage for an unforgettable journey ahead while promising even deeper revelations to come.
There are two powerful sides to this journey: a battle for freedom and the pursuit of love. Dylan has only ever known the life she's lived, set apart from her friends, yet she chooses to help them in the only way she knows how, even when the path is intrusive.
As characters like Callum and Clea enter the fray, the dynamics shift in unexpected ways. Secrets will be unveiled and relationships will be torn apart along the way.
Be ready to finish this in one sitting. Once you start, you simply will not want to put it down.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves immersive fantasy, high stakes, and captivating character-driven stories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🖤✨ Witch’s Favor by Victoria Szalay ✨🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Fox Ear Publishing for the ARC!
Okay, witchy romantasy? I’m listening. 👀
This was such a fun start to The Favor Trilogy. I really enjoyed getting pulled into the magical world and watching the story unfold as the characters find themselves tangled up in something much bigger than they expected.
The witchy elements were definitely what kept me invested. There’s magic, secrets, complicated relationships, and enough tension to make me want to keep turning pages to see where everything was headed.
I also liked that the story has that romantasy balance—there’s a relationship at the center, but there’s enough happening around it to keep the plot moving and make the world feel bigger.
There were a few moments where I wanted a little more depth and development, but overall, I had a good time with this one and I'm definitely curious to see where the trilogy goes next.
Witches + magic + secrets + romance? Yep, I’ll be back for book two. 🖤🔮
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Fox Ear Publishing for the ARC!
Okay, witchy romantasy? I’m listening. 👀
This was such a fun start to The Favor Trilogy. I really enjoyed getting pulled into the magical world and watching the story unfold as the characters find themselves tangled up in something much bigger than they expected.
The witchy elements were definitely what kept me invested. There’s magic, secrets, complicated relationships, and enough tension to make me want to keep turning pages to see where everything was headed.
I also liked that the story has that romantasy balance—there’s a relationship at the center, but there’s enough happening around it to keep the plot moving and make the world feel bigger.
There were a few moments where I wanted a little more depth and development, but overall, I had a good time with this one and I'm definitely curious to see where the trilogy goes next.
Witches + magic + secrets + romance? Yep, I’ll be back for book two. 🖤🔮
Review of advance copy received from Author
A thoroughly good read.
Humans, witches, elves and other magical beings all form the heart of the story. One of lost hope and need. The MFC Dylan having been a part of a wicked scheme by elves to entrapment witches to do their bidding, must fight everything she has known all her life to help free herself and those closest to her.
With deception and lots of betrayal running throught, this story was gripping in a way that wants you to shout at her to do the right thing in one moment, then yell at her to follow her heart the next.
Unexpected twists and turns kept this story flowing, and with each twist a new feeling of hope or sadness.
As this is book 1 of 3, I look forward to reading more adventures of Dylan and how she progresses, and to learn more about the Skadra universe and it not so heroic characters.
I love how Victoria weaves her characters and connects them, a very talented writer with a rare quality of making even villains seem real.
Humans, witches, elves and other magical beings all form the heart of the story. One of lost hope and need. The MFC Dylan having been a part of a wicked scheme by elves to entrapment witches to do their bidding, must fight everything she has known all her life to help free herself and those closest to her.
With deception and lots of betrayal running throught, this story was gripping in a way that wants you to shout at her to do the right thing in one moment, then yell at her to follow her heart the next.
Unexpected twists and turns kept this story flowing, and with each twist a new feeling of hope or sadness.
As this is book 1 of 3, I look forward to reading more adventures of Dylan and how she progresses, and to learn more about the Skadra universe and it not so heroic characters.
I love how Victoria weaves her characters and connects them, a very talented writer with a rare quality of making even villains seem real.
August 24, 2026
3.5⭐
This book was a really slow read that I almost wanted to DNF by halfway. There was just too much detail which I felt was in some parts unnecessary and irrelevant and it took longer than usual to finish the book.
I also disliked Dylan the main character because her attitude was just so unlikeable. She thinks she's smarter and better than everyone else but in reality she's really stupid, arrogant, hypocritical, selfish, untrustworthy and the worst coward of all.
I really liked the premise but sadly the writing style and the main character made it rather frustrating and annoying to really enjoy the story fully. Despite that, I liked the other characters very much.
I received a free ARC from Booksirens.
This book was a really slow read that I almost wanted to DNF by halfway. There was just too much detail which I felt was in some parts unnecessary and irrelevant and it took longer than usual to finish the book.
I also disliked Dylan the main character because her attitude was just so unlikeable. She thinks she's smarter and better than everyone else but in reality she's really stupid, arrogant, hypocritical, selfish, untrustworthy and the worst coward of all.
I really liked the premise but sadly the writing style and the main character made it rather frustrating and annoying to really enjoy the story fully. Despite that, I liked the other characters very much.
I received a free ARC from Booksirens.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was bestowed another read by Victoria, and I'm thankful for it. There's two sides to this story, a battle for freedom and the pursuit of love. Dylan has only known the life she's lived, however different from her friends. She chooses to help them in the only way she knows how, even though it's an intrusive pursuit. During the journey to freedom, you'll meet Callum and Clea, and I'll let you form your own opinions there. Secrets will be unveiled, and relationships will be ripped apart along this journey, but that's life, right? Be ready to finish this in one sitting. Once you start, you won't want to put it down.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is like nothing I personally have ever read. In a good way. I went into this not knowing what to expect and came out wondering why I would want to read this knowing I can’t get my hands on the next one.
This book follows Dylan, the empath FMC, through the dangers of the forge and trying to find an escape. I found my love and hate for characters was constantly changing and I couldn’t decide who was really the villain.
The last 25% of this book left me not wanting to put it down because I needed to know what happened. Finishing this book was heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
This book follows Dylan, the empath FMC, through the dangers of the forge and trying to find an escape. I found my love and hate for characters was constantly changing and I couldn’t decide who was really the villain.
The last 25% of this book left me not wanting to put it down because I needed to know what happened. Finishing this book was heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, wasn’t expecting to be enveloped in the story so quickly! The story really shows you being stuck between different decisions and being pulled by every which end. There are unlikable characters and very likable characters; but at the same time you start to understand the why behind so many things. I love the depth and variety of characters/ personalities you get! I do wish we got a little more backstory of characters through out but can understand how that can quickly change how I feel you are supposed to view them at first! Overall great read, thank you Victoria for giving me the chance to be apart of your ARC! Looking forward to reading more by you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One thing I will say about this book was that I was immediately drawn into the story in this series starter. Not only that, but it’s also unique and interesting; I’m impressed at how well-written it is, how fleshed about the world and the characters are, and how much detail this goes into without any info-dumping. Now, why the 4 rating? I have a definite reading preference, and I realize that as I get older, I don’t have much interest in reading certain ones. This felt more like a YA to me, and I just can’t do that anymore. So, it’s a me thing, not a book or author thing. However, if you like YA or sapphic romance/suspense, I definitely recommend you read this. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm not wanting on this ship lol
not sure if I was in a mini slump but some part felted lacking other dragged me in so I rounded up to 4 star
For me the fml protective to the ones she called family by performing a ritual she was able to make herself and 3 other live longer than normal however it due to her being half human half ? This also mean she become an empath which you think would be helpful when she has a crush on her bestie
For me my favourite characters was the weaver luke and the pixie cam i was drawn to the the most out off all the characters
luke was knowledgeable and a calm reassuring teacher who protect his own even if it ment sacrifices and cam even if he hated people he still couldn't see them suffer so helped them out he was just the same as everyone in that ship trapped no mater what spices
not sure if I was in a mini slump but some part felted lacking other dragged me in so I rounded up to 4 star
For me the fml protective to the ones she called family by performing a ritual she was able to make herself and 3 other live longer than normal however it due to her being half human half ? This also mean she become an empath which you think would be helpful when she has a crush on her bestie
For me my favourite characters was the weaver luke and the pixie cam i was drawn to the the most out off all the characters
luke was knowledgeable and a calm reassuring teacher who protect his own even if it ment sacrifices and cam even if he hated people he still couldn't see them suffer so helped them out he was just the same as everyone in that ship trapped no mater what spices
August 26, 2026
ARC REVIEW
I honestly enjoyed the book very much. I think that there was quite a bit of world building which is essential and brings everything together. I enjoyed the group dynamics and shows how much they really are there for each other and support each other. I honestly didn’t expect how the ending would go and I think that kept me on my feet. At about the halfway point I felt myself getting more invested in the story. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.
I am so thankful to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book!
I honestly enjoyed the book very much. I think that there was quite a bit of world building which is essential and brings everything together. I enjoyed the group dynamics and shows how much they really are there for each other and support each other. I honestly didn’t expect how the ending would go and I think that kept me on my feet. At about the halfway point I felt myself getting more invested in the story. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.
I am so thankful to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the Publisher and Victoria Szalay for the ARC.
This was a really decent and unique read with a great cast of characters.
There was the odd moment that made my interest dip a little, but overall I really enjoyed my time with it.
A great opener for a series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the trilogy goes from here.
This was a really decent and unique read with a great cast of characters.
There was the odd moment that made my interest dip a little, but overall I really enjoyed my time with it.
A great opener for a series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the trilogy goes from here.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a fun read! I was committed from chapter 1! Witches, vampires, fae, blood-magic, prison ship, what could go wrong? Not going to lie, Dylan had me so mad by the end of the book, that I’m still frustrated! I’m not giving spoilers though! I enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend!
I received this book in advance from the author.
I received this book in advance from the author.
August 15, 2026
There were themes that may not have been a particular interest of mine; however when it comes to the story and the writing. I thought I was great.
The story sucked me in and the writing really added to the emotions you could feel with the characters.
The idea of the book is really interesting and it is well written.
The story sucked me in and the writing really added to the emotions you could feel with the characters.
The idea of the book is really interesting and it is well written.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed the start to this new trilogy. It’s well written with amazing world building that helps you visualise what the characters are seeing around them. Read in a day, so much angst and left wanting to know what happens next
I received a copy of this book direct from the author and have chosen to leave my review.
I received a copy of this book direct from the author and have chosen to leave my review.
August 26, 2026
This was such a fun and unique story!!!
There's a prisoner cruise ship with all sorts of magical creatures! There's secrets and betrayals and battles!!
There's a prisoner cruise ship with all sorts of magical creatures! There's secrets and betrayals and battles!!
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