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Gutterwitch
Not yet published
Expected 25 Mar 27Scullery maid Joan has always known her place. Bound in service to a powerful witching house, she is maid and companion to Belinda, their treasured heir. But when she stumbles upon a fallen star and makes an impossible wish, she becomes a most fearsome and forbidden thing: a witch with wild magic.
When Joan and Belinda are invited to study at an elite university, Joan is swept into a world of ancient academia, ruthless politics, and intoxicating power. Shunned for her lack of lineage, her magic nonetheless flourishes – and she is drawn to Silas, her enigmatic mentor, and Caspar, a fellow outcast and the bastard son of a faerie queen.
As Joan's powers grow, she is thrust into a web of secrets that threatens the fragile peace between witches and fae. With her heart and loyalties divided, Joan stands at the front lines of a war that will shape her destiny – and the fate of witchkind forever.
When Joan and Belinda are invited to study at an elite university, Joan is swept into a world of ancient academia, ruthless politics, and intoxicating power. Shunned for her lack of lineage, her magic nonetheless flourishes – and she is drawn to Silas, her enigmatic mentor, and Caspar, a fellow outcast and the bastard son of a faerie queen.
As Joan's powers grow, she is thrust into a web of secrets that threatens the fragile peace between witches and fae. With her heart and loyalties divided, Joan stands at the front lines of a war that will shape her destiny – and the fate of witchkind forever.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 25, 2027
About the author
Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson
6 books490 followersEsmie Jikiemi-Pearson is a Sunday Times Bestselling author, and the inaugural winner of the Future World's Prize. Her forthcoming novel, Gutterwitch, sold to Penguin Random House after an intense eight way auction. In the UK, the book sold to Bloomsbury after a nine way auction.
Esmie's first novel was nominated for Best British and Irish Book at the Tik Tok Book Awards.
Esmie's first novel was nominated for Best British and Irish Book at the Tik Tok Book Awards.
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August 22, 2025A maid who wishes upon a fallen star and becomes the greatest witch in the land? This is going to be MAGICAL, it's going to give Wicked x Disney core, I can't wait for this one. Wake me up when it's 2027.
October 4, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson for letting me “hold a wish” and read this early!
This enchanting children’s fantasy tells the story of Joan, a strong-willed girl who must overcome classism, fear, and uncertainty to harness her wish to obtain magic from a star. I loved the romance between Joan and Caspar and the scenes of wandering with the stars, but the rest of the story didn't stand out as much.
Unfortunately, the book reminded me too much of Harry Potter, with scenes like an orphan receiving a letter to a prestigious magic school, facing hardships because she's a scullery maid with special powers, the grand dining hall scene with all the professors introduced, darkness enveloping the school, and the word "psilono" used to make her broom rise. There are probably more similarities, but these were hard to ignore.
While there are differences, I found that over 60% of the book drags, and the twist is quite predictable. I didn't like Silas from the start— it seemed unlikely that Joan, who yearned for freedom, would willingly let this man control her and say, “you can be saved.” GIRL PLEASE. That ending was sadly off-tone with the themes the book aimed to highlight.
This enchanting children’s fantasy tells the story of Joan, a strong-willed girl who must overcome classism, fear, and uncertainty to harness her wish to obtain magic from a star. I loved the romance between Joan and Caspar and the scenes of wandering with the stars, but the rest of the story didn't stand out as much.
Unfortunately, the book reminded me too much of Harry Potter, with scenes like an orphan receiving a letter to a prestigious magic school, facing hardships because she's a scullery maid with special powers, the grand dining hall scene with all the professors introduced, darkness enveloping the school, and the word "psilono" used to make her broom rise. There are probably more similarities, but these were hard to ignore.
While there are differences, I found that over 60% of the book drags, and the twist is quite predictable. I didn't like Silas from the start— it seemed unlikely that Joan, who yearned for freedom, would willingly let this man control her and say, “you can be saved.” GIRL PLEASE. That ending was sadly off-tone with the themes the book aimed to highlight.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF 44%.
Thank you to the author, Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was super excited to read a new Dark Academia book but this book is way too slow paced for me. The magic type is unique and the school with its puzzles is amazing. I feel that a plot should have been forming at 44% but nothing is going on.
Thank you to the author, Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was super excited to read a new Dark Academia book but this book is way too slow paced for me. The magic type is unique and the school with its puzzles is amazing. I feel that a plot should have been forming at 44% but nothing is going on.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 ⭐ A Deadly Education 🫱🏾🫲🏽 Legendborn 🫱🏾🫲🏽 Darkest Part of the Forest
August 31, 2026
”My name is Joan Scullery. I wish to be the greatest witch that ever lived.”
Joan was bound in service to Belinda Balthazar as a child. An oath taken to put Belinda first in all ways; to sacrifice her life, if necessary. In this world, ‘wild’ magic is persecuted - faeries put to death for their power. One day she finds a star in a jar in the library, long forgotten, bought for bragging rights, and wishes to be the greatest witch ever… not realising the magic gifted to her would be wild, and instead of revelling in her new power she’d grow up trying to hide it. Years later, on the day Belinda is to receive her official invitation to *thee* elite University, Joan receives one too: taking her in a day from scullery maid to elite University student.
I’ve read these things countless times - the poor student who doesn’t belong, berated and bullied by her classmates, the one she thought was her friend still wanting to be in their group, but this one actually has the political and identity layers to make it work. She’s flawed and complex - she can perfectly articulate in debating how the common-folk only despise the faerie because it allows them to look down on others as they are looked down on, but not see how she is doing the same thing. The conspiracy unfolds well, her studies aren’t forgotten (like so many other ‘dark academias’ I’ve read), and stakes are high. Jikiemi-Pearson’s prose is really lovely in this, too, it’s fairytale without feeling childish (except for the start when, you know, she is a child), and really immerses you in the magic. I kept putting it down because I didn’t want it to be over, and am a little mad at myself for reading it so early, because I now have to wait for book two.
My one gripe - and this is the kind of thing that gets edited out so likely won’t be in the final version - is how often Joan will repeat things we’ve just been told, sometimes literally on the page before.
Joan was bound in service to Belinda Balthazar as a child. An oath taken to put Belinda first in all ways; to sacrifice her life, if necessary. In this world, ‘wild’ magic is persecuted - faeries put to death for their power. One day she finds a star in a jar in the library, long forgotten, bought for bragging rights, and wishes to be the greatest witch ever… not realising the magic gifted to her would be wild, and instead of revelling in her new power she’d grow up trying to hide it. Years later, on the day Belinda is to receive her official invitation to *thee* elite University, Joan receives one too: taking her in a day from scullery maid to elite University student.
I’ve read these things countless times - the poor student who doesn’t belong, berated and bullied by her classmates, the one she thought was her friend still wanting to be in their group, but this one actually has the political and identity layers to make it work. She’s flawed and complex - she can perfectly articulate in debating how the common-folk only despise the faerie because it allows them to look down on others as they are looked down on, but not see how she is doing the same thing. The conspiracy unfolds well, her studies aren’t forgotten (like so many other ‘dark academias’ I’ve read), and stakes are high. Jikiemi-Pearson’s prose is really lovely in this, too, it’s fairytale without feeling childish (except for the start when, you know, she is a child), and really immerses you in the magic. I kept putting it down because I didn’t want it to be over, and am a little mad at myself for reading it so early, because I now have to wait for book two.
My one gripe - and this is the kind of thing that gets edited out so likely won’t be in the final version - is how often Joan will repeat things we’ve just been told, sometimes literally on the page before.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Gutterwitch, a debut fantasy novel, follows eighteen-year-old Joan, an orphan raised in a wealthy, ancestral witch household as a magically bound companion to the young witch Belinda. As a child, Joan wishes on a star which grants her magical powers. As a result, she ends up at Givenine university alongside Belinda, where she must face a murder mystery, a controlling mentor, classism, racism, and the falling apart of the oldest friendship she has.
Jikiemi-Pearson has crafted a strong debut novel and the beginnings of what is seemingly a duology or series. There is much to like about the first installment of Joan’s story. The worldbuilding, specifically the university Joan attends is richly crafted, along with the folklore and other magical beings that inhabit Joan’s world. As the series progresses, Jikiemi-Pearson has created a lot of room to develop these intruiging plot points (which I hope she does in the next novel). Joan is a compelling character, along with friend and romantic interest Caspar, are well-rounded, fleshed out protagonists that are both easy to root for while also still maintaining mortally grey qualities, which makes them both so complex.
Some of the secondary characters fell a little flat for me, particularly Joan’s magical mentor, Silas Scowl. His villain arc was a little predictable for the majority of the novel, with the exception of his ending – and where he might go in the sequel. Similarly, I hope Belinda and Christian’s characters can be further developed throughout the series to have the same interiority that Joan and Caspar display. The pacing for the first 50% of the book was fantastic. As a reader, I felt fully immersed in Joan’s world as she tried to assimilate to her new environment and the challenges that came with it. However, the latter half of the story’s pacing was off kilter. As Joan and Caspar got to know each other better, characters such Silas and Belinda seemed to fall off the page, only to come back jarringly a few chapters later. I’m curious to see how Jikiemi-Pearson might rectify this in the sequel – which I will certainly be picking up!
Gutterwitch, a debut fantasy novel, follows eighteen-year-old Joan, an orphan raised in a wealthy, ancestral witch household as a magically bound companion to the young witch Belinda. As a child, Joan wishes on a star which grants her magical powers. As a result, she ends up at Givenine university alongside Belinda, where she must face a murder mystery, a controlling mentor, classism, racism, and the falling apart of the oldest friendship she has.
Jikiemi-Pearson has crafted a strong debut novel and the beginnings of what is seemingly a duology or series. There is much to like about the first installment of Joan’s story. The worldbuilding, specifically the university Joan attends is richly crafted, along with the folklore and other magical beings that inhabit Joan’s world. As the series progresses, Jikiemi-Pearson has created a lot of room to develop these intruiging plot points (which I hope she does in the next novel). Joan is a compelling character, along with friend and romantic interest Caspar, are well-rounded, fleshed out protagonists that are both easy to root for while also still maintaining mortally grey qualities, which makes them both so complex.
Some of the secondary characters fell a little flat for me, particularly Joan’s magical mentor, Silas Scowl. His villain arc was a little predictable for the majority of the novel, with the exception of his ending – and where he might go in the sequel. Similarly, I hope Belinda and Christian’s characters can be further developed throughout the series to have the same interiority that Joan and Caspar display. The pacing for the first 50% of the book was fantastic. As a reader, I felt fully immersed in Joan’s world as she tried to assimilate to her new environment and the challenges that came with it. However, the latter half of the story’s pacing was off kilter. As Joan and Caspar got to know each other better, characters such Silas and Belinda seemed to fall off the page, only to come back jarringly a few chapters later. I’m curious to see how Jikiemi-Pearson might rectify this in the sequel – which I will certainly be picking up!
October 16, 2026
Thank you to Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson and Random House Children’s Books (Random House Books for Young Readers) for providing me with this complimentary eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This title will be released on March 2, 2027!
I am going to preface this review by saying I understand that I am an adult with decades of reading under my belt, reading a YA fantasy book. That being said, I will be judging this book for what it is: a YA. Was it still an enjoyable read with a fleshed out world-building and characters? Absolutely. Young adult and adult readers alike will definitely devour this in a heartbeat because it is a dark academic twist on coming of age fairy tales. I truly just enjoyed fully immersing myself in this dynamic and at times ruthless world. I’d recommend it to anyone who loved “Legendborn”, “Harry Potter”, and “The School for Good & Evil”-- the vibe is a mix of the three with fantasy creatures/entities, deception, magical powers, an atmospheric academy, and a journey of self-discovery.
I appreciated not being thrown into chaos on the first page, and having some world-building and just general character building in the opening chapters. Joan– who has had a less than stellar life as an orphan– does what any good fairy tale character would do and quite literally wishes upon a star. But how steep of a cost will entering this world and using magic incur for Joan? (Because wishing to be “the greatest witch that ever lived” as a child feels like the catch-22 presented to Jafar at the end of Aladdin.) That’s what is at the heart of the bulk of this story. Joan goes through a believable character arc as you watch her grow from a repressed 11 year scullery maid into a powerful 18 year old witch. There is a bit of a romantic subplot– but it stays true to the genre with nothing explicit or overtly raunchy/suggestive.
The intricacies of the lore behind their world and their powers kept me addicted, and we get it in pieces throughout the story so you have to keep reading to find out more. The magic system and the world building were well thought out, developed, and easy to understand– and most importantly: fun to read about! I could definitely (happily) read a sequel inside of Givenine University.
I am going to preface this review by saying I understand that I am an adult with decades of reading under my belt, reading a YA fantasy book. That being said, I will be judging this book for what it is: a YA. Was it still an enjoyable read with a fleshed out world-building and characters? Absolutely. Young adult and adult readers alike will definitely devour this in a heartbeat because it is a dark academic twist on coming of age fairy tales. I truly just enjoyed fully immersing myself in this dynamic and at times ruthless world. I’d recommend it to anyone who loved “Legendborn”, “Harry Potter”, and “The School for Good & Evil”-- the vibe is a mix of the three with fantasy creatures/entities, deception, magical powers, an atmospheric academy, and a journey of self-discovery.
I appreciated not being thrown into chaos on the first page, and having some world-building and just general character building in the opening chapters. Joan– who has had a less than stellar life as an orphan– does what any good fairy tale character would do and quite literally wishes upon a star. But how steep of a cost will entering this world and using magic incur for Joan? (Because wishing to be “the greatest witch that ever lived” as a child feels like the catch-22 presented to Jafar at the end of Aladdin.) That’s what is at the heart of the bulk of this story. Joan goes through a believable character arc as you watch her grow from a repressed 11 year scullery maid into a powerful 18 year old witch. There is a bit of a romantic subplot– but it stays true to the genre with nothing explicit or overtly raunchy/suggestive.
The intricacies of the lore behind their world and their powers kept me addicted, and we get it in pieces throughout the story so you have to keep reading to find out more. The magic system and the world building were well thought out, developed, and easy to understand– and most importantly: fun to read about! I could definitely (happily) read a sequel inside of Givenine University.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you want a lovely, well rounded read with compelling characters and intriguing worldbuilding, then I would highly suggest never reading this book. Ever. In fact, please never even entertain a notion of reading this book and get far far away as soon as possible.
First of all, this was the most predictable book I have ever read. Not only was each twist painfully obvious, but there was not a single surprising thing about the plot, the characters, or anything else. I could have told you the entire plot including all the "twists" from the time I read chapter five.
There was also just. . . a lot of vaguely creepy stuff going on in the background, which very much disturbed me. The author would throw out the most horrifying random custom or the fact that people ate human flesh or some really crude statement or mention of some adult thing, it was almost like she was just trying to shock the reader, or get a reaction or something. On top of that, she felt the need to repeat every piece of information a bunch of times, and then throw in a random scene or flashback about it, just in case you missed it the first time.
Beyond that, the main character was extremely unlikable, did not pick up on any of the terribly-unsubtle clues shoved in her face, and thus was utterly SHOCKED by the appallingly obvious twists when they were finally revealed at the end. What's more, she was actually pretty terrible, and made some really bad decisions and behaved very selfishly. Which could have been a great source of character growth.
But no.
Instead, every character (and herself), constantly validated her, told her that she was justified, that she was a good person and didn't deserve all of the TERRIBLE things that happened to her. She DESERVES to be happy. She deserves to have everyone fawn over her.
And oh but they do. She was one of those main characters who was vastly unintelligent, but who was constantly lifted up, because she was special, she was important. She was SO good at magic, and everything else she ever attempted, she was going to do GREAT things with her life.
Spoiler alert, she did not.
Don't even get me started on the side characters. They were each and every one of them made of cardboard. Wait no. They were made of cardstock. All of them to a fault had exactly one personality trait, exacerbated to the point of absurdity, with zero depth whatsoever. And the descriptions. My word. Every single guy character was absolutely the most handsome man in all of existence. The main character felt the need to point this out every five paragraphs. She also felt the need to bring up Silas's 'hazel eyes' every single time he appeared, sometimes multiple times a scene. HE HAS HAZEL EYES, WE GET IT, ALRIGHT?
I have not hated a character in a good long while with the passion that I hated Silas Scowl. (Yes, that really is his name). Ever since he sleazed into the book to EVER so kindly and generously offer to let the main character study magic under him, I knew he was horrid. It was obvious that he was horrid. Everyone could see that he was horrid and slimy and rotten. Everyone except our stalwart main character, that is, who ignored the fact that he was cruel and horrid to her, the fact that he manipulated and physically hurt her, and stayed insistent that he was actually a really great guy. He just had some problems, whatever, that was fine.
I think part of the reason the book bothered me so very much was that Joan was so passive. Every time something was suggested to her, she justified it in her own mind and then did it without even thinking of the consequences. She was pushed around and manipulated and used by everyone around her, and never once did she even realize it was happening, because she was just that thick I guess. She never stopped being entirely selfish and wholly focused on herself. And fine, write a villain origin story. I wrote a villain origin story. I've enjoyed them in the past. But let it be a villain origin story. Let your character be the villain, don't pretend like she's the good guy when she's clearly not. Let her face the consequences of her actions and don't act like she can do no wrong just because she's the main character. I think it actually might have been interesting if the author had let Joan have some real consequences for her actions, and if she either repented and resolved her character arc at the end, or else embraced her role as antagonist. Instead, she did neither, and ended the book still deluded into thinking she was completely in the right.
There is honestly a lot more I could complain about. The toxic feminist messaging, the weird love triangle, all the content I didn't even get to, the poor writing and sentences that didn't even make any semblance of sense. . . But I think I've gone on quite long enough, so I will just conclude by saying that I was extremely disappointed, and would unfortunately not recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are thoroughly my own.
First of all, this was the most predictable book I have ever read. Not only was each twist painfully obvious, but there was not a single surprising thing about the plot, the characters, or anything else. I could have told you the entire plot including all the "twists" from the time I read chapter five.
There was also just. . . a lot of vaguely creepy stuff going on in the background, which very much disturbed me. The author would throw out the most horrifying random custom or the fact that people ate human flesh or some really crude statement or mention of some adult thing, it was almost like she was just trying to shock the reader, or get a reaction or something. On top of that, she felt the need to repeat every piece of information a bunch of times, and then throw in a random scene or flashback about it, just in case you missed it the first time.
Beyond that, the main character was extremely unlikable, did not pick up on any of the terribly-unsubtle clues shoved in her face, and thus was utterly SHOCKED by the appallingly obvious twists when they were finally revealed at the end. What's more, she was actually pretty terrible, and made some really bad decisions and behaved very selfishly. Which could have been a great source of character growth.
But no.
Instead, every character (and herself), constantly validated her, told her that she was justified, that she was a good person and didn't deserve all of the TERRIBLE things that happened to her. She DESERVES to be happy. She deserves to have everyone fawn over her.
And oh but they do. She was one of those main characters who was vastly unintelligent, but who was constantly lifted up, because she was special, she was important. She was SO good at magic, and everything else she ever attempted, she was going to do GREAT things with her life.
Spoiler alert, she did not.
Don't even get me started on the side characters. They were each and every one of them made of cardboard. Wait no. They were made of cardstock. All of them to a fault had exactly one personality trait, exacerbated to the point of absurdity, with zero depth whatsoever. And the descriptions. My word. Every single guy character was absolutely the most handsome man in all of existence. The main character felt the need to point this out every five paragraphs. She also felt the need to bring up Silas's 'hazel eyes' every single time he appeared, sometimes multiple times a scene. HE HAS HAZEL EYES, WE GET IT, ALRIGHT?
I have not hated a character in a good long while with the passion that I hated Silas Scowl. (Yes, that really is his name). Ever since he sleazed into the book to EVER so kindly and generously offer to let the main character study magic under him, I knew he was horrid. It was obvious that he was horrid. Everyone could see that he was horrid and slimy and rotten. Everyone except our stalwart main character, that is, who ignored the fact that he was cruel and horrid to her, the fact that he manipulated and physically hurt her, and stayed insistent that he was actually a really great guy. He just had some problems, whatever, that was fine.
I think part of the reason the book bothered me so very much was that Joan was so passive. Every time something was suggested to her, she justified it in her own mind and then did it without even thinking of the consequences. She was pushed around and manipulated and used by everyone around her, and never once did she even realize it was happening, because she was just that thick I guess. She never stopped being entirely selfish and wholly focused on herself. And fine, write a villain origin story. I wrote a villain origin story. I've enjoyed them in the past. But let it be a villain origin story. Let your character be the villain, don't pretend like she's the good guy when she's clearly not. Let her face the consequences of her actions and don't act like she can do no wrong just because she's the main character. I think it actually might have been interesting if the author had let Joan have some real consequences for her actions, and if she either repented and resolved her character arc at the end, or else embraced her role as antagonist. Instead, she did neither, and ended the book still deluded into thinking she was completely in the right.
There is honestly a lot more I could complain about. The toxic feminist messaging, the weird love triangle, all the content I didn't even get to, the poor writing and sentences that didn't even make any semblance of sense. . . But I think I've gone on quite long enough, so I will just conclude by saying that I was extremely disappointed, and would unfortunately not recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are thoroughly my own.
Review of advance copy
From the opening chapters, Gutterwitch hooked me with a classic, deeply satisfying underdog premise. Following the death of her mother, Joan Scullery is brought into the great Witch House of Balthazar as a servant to the young noble daughter, Belinda. But after an argument, the young Joan stumbles upon a trapped star in the library and makes a desperate wish: to be the best at magic. What follows is a chaotic, volatile awakening. Joan gains a wild, lethal star magic she can barely control—deadly to the touch—forcing her to conceal her power in a world where magic is strictly divided between the Saint-descended elite houses and "wild" magic wielded by creatures like the Fae.
When Belinda is sent to the elite magic academy, Joan finds herself there too, and the dark academia elements immediately shine. Joan is instantly recognised by the faculty for her raw, unmatched power, yet she is shunned, mocked, and isolated by the high-born student body. The stakes escalate rapidly during the school entry trial when Joan discovers the murder of a former student, pulling the narrative out of simple boarding-school rivalry into a dangerous mystery involving elite secret societies, smear campaigns, and a systematic witch conspiracy to close portals and trap wild magic users.
What truly elevated the book for me was the romantic tension and the dramatic irony baked into the plot. Upon touching the star, Joan caught a glimpse of the future that convinced her she was destined to be in love with her professor. This sets up an incredible dynamic with Caspar, a half-Fae prince and fellow outcast. Their reluctant alliance as they try to solve the murder while navigating high-society deception is fantastic, providing just the right amount of slow-burn intrigue for readers who love romantic fantasy with lower spice and rich chemistry.
The climax delivers a massive, brilliantly executed plot twist. The mentor dynamic, the prophecy, and the vision Joan thought she understood all shatter at once. Seeing Joan overpower the forces trying to mould her into a pawn, reclaim her agency, step through the final portal, and forge her own legend as the titular Gutterwitch was an immensely satisfying payoff.
This is an easy recommendation for anyone who loves dark academia with murder-mystery peril, subverted prophecies, low-spice romantasy, and rich worldbuilding.
When Belinda is sent to the elite magic academy, Joan finds herself there too, and the dark academia elements immediately shine. Joan is instantly recognised by the faculty for her raw, unmatched power, yet she is shunned, mocked, and isolated by the high-born student body. The stakes escalate rapidly during the school entry trial when Joan discovers the murder of a former student, pulling the narrative out of simple boarding-school rivalry into a dangerous mystery involving elite secret societies, smear campaigns, and a systematic witch conspiracy to close portals and trap wild magic users.
What truly elevated the book for me was the romantic tension and the dramatic irony baked into the plot. Upon touching the star, Joan caught a glimpse of the future that convinced her she was destined to be in love with her professor. This sets up an incredible dynamic with Caspar, a half-Fae prince and fellow outcast. Their reluctant alliance as they try to solve the murder while navigating high-society deception is fantastic, providing just the right amount of slow-burn intrigue for readers who love romantic fantasy with lower spice and rich chemistry.
The climax delivers a massive, brilliantly executed plot twist. The mentor dynamic, the prophecy, and the vision Joan thought she understood all shatter at once. Seeing Joan overpower the forces trying to mould her into a pawn, reclaim her agency, step through the final portal, and forge her own legend as the titular Gutterwitch was an immensely satisfying payoff.
This is an easy recommendation for anyone who loves dark academia with murder-mystery peril, subverted prophecies, low-spice romantasy, and rich worldbuilding.
October 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I enjoyed how the story started with a young scullery maid who got to make a wish to be the most powerful witch the world has ever seen. I was instantly intrigued and excited to find out how the magic manifested in Joan and what she decided to do with it.
I really liked the magic, the history, the world building and the academy so much! It was well detailed but I could still easily follow along.
Between regular classes, learning telegastry from Silas & investigating faerie doors and dark magic with Caspar; Joan sure does keep us busy. I
This story has all the elements I love - witches, Magic, Far and academia, but the plot was a little predictable. I still enjoyed it the story and Caspar in particular lol. With that being said, the book was still a fun magical YA read and I will be tuning in for book two!
Notable quote:
“If you have to hide your true self in order to be loved, it’s not a love worth having.”
I enjoyed how the story started with a young scullery maid who got to make a wish to be the most powerful witch the world has ever seen. I was instantly intrigued and excited to find out how the magic manifested in Joan and what she decided to do with it.
I really liked the magic, the history, the world building and the academy so much! It was well detailed but I could still easily follow along.
Between regular classes, learning telegastry from Silas & investigating faerie doors and dark magic with Caspar; Joan sure does keep us busy. I
This story has all the elements I love - witches, Magic, Far and academia, but the plot was a little predictable. I still enjoyed it the story and Caspar in particular lol. With that being said, the book was still a fun magical YA read and I will be tuning in for book two!
Notable quote:
“If you have to hide your true self in order to be loved, it’s not a love worth having.”
October 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books and the author for allowing me to read this as an ARC!
I really enjoyed the story about Joan Scullery who is an orphaned maid who makes a wish upon a fallen star and is therefore thrust into a magical college along with her witch-mistress, Belinda (where no other maid has been before). We see Joan as she grows with her magic, although there are some dark, perilous plans that are brewing at the school that involve Joan and another character who's the first of his kind to attend the college as well. The world building was done very well, and I feel like we got a well done back story put together throughout the book to better understand Joan and the decisions she makes. The magic did take me a bit to pick up but was explained thoroughly and didn't leave us completely confused.
I will say it was a little predictable once I got through the first half but that didn't take much away from the story because it was just that good. The last portion of the book had me obsessed and unable to put it down until I finished it. The twists were laid out beautifully and once you figured it out, the entire book took on a different light with a darker purpose. There is tension, twists and turns and an ending that (I hope) should lead perfectly into the next book, which I am looking forward to. I am excited to see where the next book takes us!
I really enjoyed the story about Joan Scullery who is an orphaned maid who makes a wish upon a fallen star and is therefore thrust into a magical college along with her witch-mistress, Belinda (where no other maid has been before). We see Joan as she grows with her magic, although there are some dark, perilous plans that are brewing at the school that involve Joan and another character who's the first of his kind to attend the college as well. The world building was done very well, and I feel like we got a well done back story put together throughout the book to better understand Joan and the decisions she makes. The magic did take me a bit to pick up but was explained thoroughly and didn't leave us completely confused.
I will say it was a little predictable once I got through the first half but that didn't take much away from the story because it was just that good. The last portion of the book had me obsessed and unable to put it down until I finished it. The twists were laid out beautifully and once you figured it out, the entire book took on a different light with a darker purpose. There is tension, twists and turns and an ending that (I hope) should lead perfectly into the next book, which I am looking forward to. I am excited to see where the next book takes us!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This reminded me of Wicked in a way. The house debutante with almost no power and the strange girl with amazing power. It was still an original story, though, with many twists and turns. I felt very bad for Joan in the way she kept on getting manipulated and used, but im happy she claimed her own power. Caspar was fascinating and I heartily enjoyed all the nods to Arthurian myth, right down to Merdyn and Nimue. I was disappointed to find this was only book 1! Only because now I have to wait for the next book in the series. Im excited to see where Joan goes as she travels and gains a more thorough understanding of her magic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark, whimsical and masterfully written. This story breathes magic and wonder while exploring the shadowy sides of power and its imbalances. In a world torn in two in the aftermath of a war between witches and fair folk, our main character, Joan, struggles to understand her vast wild power while navigating the rigid confines of society at a magical school. Joan is a complicated character-raised to believe that silence is tantamount to godliness and that her life is lesser than that of her mistress (she is essentially a magical lady’s maid)-she fights to realize her ambitions and dreams, yet still doesn’t entirely believe she is worthy of them. What I loved about her arc is how slow she is to realize her worth and potential. It happens little by little throughout the story, with help from two very different men-Silas and Caspar. Silas represents society in its highest form. He is a respected witch with a high position and influence (power through discipline). Caspar is a half-fae prince, representing the pull of wild abandon, pleasure and beauty (power through release). Joan is caught between the two. I loved the exploration of these relationships-they develop naturally over the course of the book. Silas’s teaching methods are very nearly abusive, controlling and fixated on mastery of the self-he is a ‘telegast’ (a mind manipulator, essentially) who shows Joan how her weakness can become strength. Caspar is a fellow student who nontheless teaches Joan what it means to be fully oneself through freedom and encouragement. The ending was quite heartpounding, and I must admit, I didn’t see the twist coming! That doesn’t happen often. Joan’s self-actualization was highly cathartic; feminine rage for the win!
As much as I loved the characters and plot, it was the writing that really stood out to me. This is a YA book, but it doesn’t read like one. The prose is highly lyrical, full and round. The author clearly has a firm grasp of the English language and isn’t afraid to show it. I could tell how much love and effort was put into the research behind this (unless the author was already really knowledgeable about architecture). I was completely transported to the wild woods, to Givenine University, to the sea, the stars-the way these settings were described was utterly enthralling. I just adored living in this world. I will certainly be reading the next book!
As much as I loved the characters and plot, it was the writing that really stood out to me. This is a YA book, but it doesn’t read like one. The prose is highly lyrical, full and round. The author clearly has a firm grasp of the English language and isn’t afraid to show it. I could tell how much love and effort was put into the research behind this (unless the author was already really knowledgeable about architecture). I was completely transported to the wild woods, to Givenine University, to the sea, the stars-the way these settings were described was utterly enthralling. I just adored living in this world. I will certainly be reading the next book!
October 26, 2026
I received this as an ARC and it really wasn’t for me. I wanted to like it, but basically stopped reading at around 50% and speed read the rest.
It says it is for kids, but some of the content at the beginning is very disturbing and didn’t feel necessary for the plot. I kept trying to remind myself of the demographic it is targeted for but even with that reminder I didn’t like the writing style. I wish I could give more constructive feedback, but really it just failed to capture my attention, mostly due to writing style.
It says it is for kids, but some of the content at the beginning is very disturbing and didn’t feel necessary for the plot. I kept trying to remind myself of the demographic it is targeted for but even with that reminder I didn’t like the writing style. I wish I could give more constructive feedback, but really it just failed to capture my attention, mostly due to writing style.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
in a world where kindness seems to abandon us, trust is what keeps us running. trust not for everyone, but for ourselves. gutterwitch definitely reads like a wicked retelling where joan came to be with an ancient power set in academe where everyone shuns her because of who she is, but it's also where she found friendship, love, and totally trustable mentors amid everything. the concept of gutterwitch, however, can also stand on its own evident in a way that it left me wanting for more as the story conveniently tackled themes of racism and classism in a world where magic should be the word that balance it all.
when power begets power and respect begets respect, joan continued to thrive on what she hopes and believes is true and i liked her for that. the first half of the book actually kept my hopes up but it was gone in the next when i started to feel like the execution of the story falls off as the plot progressed. i just wish this book was more subtle on pushing the antagonist as, well, the antagonist, because it was one of the most obvious things in this world. character relationships in this book also feels like a false surface without any depth at all. i also wish we had seen more of belinda being a friend to joan, and caspar being a love interest to her because both certainly left me little to no impact when all of them are barely together in the entirety of the book, with most of the developments happening in the background.
the ending, though, i certainly liked! joan has no reason at all to save the world that continues to reject her even at the very last moment, but she held still to her beliefs of doing what's right even when it puts her in jeopardy in the process. my heart is always for those who have been and continued to be wronged for something they clearly did not do. maybe if given the chance, i would like to pick up the sequel as well.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
when power begets power and respect begets respect, joan continued to thrive on what she hopes and believes is true and i liked her for that. the first half of the book actually kept my hopes up but it was gone in the next when i started to feel like the execution of the story falls off as the plot progressed. i just wish this book was more subtle on pushing the antagonist as, well, the antagonist, because it was one of the most obvious things in this world. character relationships in this book also feels like a false surface without any depth at all. i also wish we had seen more of belinda being a friend to joan, and caspar being a love interest to her because both certainly left me little to no impact when all of them are barely together in the entirety of the book, with most of the developments happening in the background.
the ending, though, i certainly liked! joan has no reason at all to save the world that continues to reject her even at the very last moment, but she held still to her beliefs of doing what's right even when it puts her in jeopardy in the process. my heart is always for those who have been and continued to be wronged for something they clearly did not do. maybe if given the chance, i would like to pick up the sequel as well.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a great debut.. The writing was atmospheric and the magic system very interesting. I am excited to see where the story will go from here, but I did think the plot twist was a little obvious.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Does the author, the editor, or anyone publishing this book know that the author of Wicked, Gregory Maguire IS STILL ALIVE???? Wicked, the book, the theatre show, and the movie are NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN!!! Girl you are gonna get sued so hard. Everything from the characters, their backstory, the character arcs, the twists, are copy and paste from Wicked
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance copy of Gutterwitch through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I’ll admit I may have been a little biased going into this one: I follow the author on YouTube and really enjoy her personality and her content. But the premise also genuinely caught my attention. There are younger girls in my life who love to read, and I wanted to see whether this would be a book they might enjoy, too.
Having finished it, I’m happy to give it five stars. I enjoyed it, and I think it really hits the mark for readers around fourteen. The magic system was especially interesting and felt different from anything I’ve read before.
I did pick up on one of the major plot twists before the reveal. That said, I’m a thirty-five-year-old woman who has been reading and writing since childhood, so I often have a sense of where a story is heading. Guessing a twist doesn’t necessarily spoil the experience for me. What I didn’t see coming was the cliffhanger! I’d been wondering how the story would extend into a second book, and the ending definitely left me curious about what comes next.
I would have liked more character development and a little more room for parts of the story to breathe. As a writer, I appreciate how much there is to balance when putting a book together, but as a reader, I still wanted to spend more time getting to know the characters.
For me, five stars doesn’t mean a book has to be flawless or the greatest thing I’ve ever read. I had a good time with Gutterwitch, found something new in its magic, and finished it wanting to read the sequel. I also think it could be a great starting point for younger readers getting into fantasy.
I’m excited for book two, and I’ll happily recommend this one to the younger readers in my life and to my own readers looking for something to share with them. It’s also a book I’d love to keep in my collection for my future kids.
I’ll admit I may have been a little biased going into this one: I follow the author on YouTube and really enjoy her personality and her content. But the premise also genuinely caught my attention. There are younger girls in my life who love to read, and I wanted to see whether this would be a book they might enjoy, too.
Having finished it, I’m happy to give it five stars. I enjoyed it, and I think it really hits the mark for readers around fourteen. The magic system was especially interesting and felt different from anything I’ve read before.
I did pick up on one of the major plot twists before the reveal. That said, I’m a thirty-five-year-old woman who has been reading and writing since childhood, so I often have a sense of where a story is heading. Guessing a twist doesn’t necessarily spoil the experience for me. What I didn’t see coming was the cliffhanger! I’d been wondering how the story would extend into a second book, and the ending definitely left me curious about what comes next.
I would have liked more character development and a little more room for parts of the story to breathe. As a writer, I appreciate how much there is to balance when putting a book together, but as a reader, I still wanted to spend more time getting to know the characters.
For me, five stars doesn’t mean a book has to be flawless or the greatest thing I’ve ever read. I had a good time with Gutterwitch, found something new in its magic, and finished it wanting to read the sequel. I also think it could be a great starting point for younger readers getting into fantasy.
I’m excited for book two, and I’ll happily recommend this one to the younger readers in my life and to my own readers looking for something to share with them. It’s also a book I’d love to keep in my collection for my future kids.
September 18, 2026
There’s something about a story that starts with a wish and immediately makes you question whether getting exactly what you want is actually a good thing. And GutterWitch really said, “Be careful what you wish for” and then proceeded to make that warning everyone’s problem.
I was completely hooked by the premise. It has this dark, almost storybook quality to it, where everything feels magical and beautiful on the surface, but there’s always something lurking underneath. The world felt whimsical, eerie, and just unsettling enough to keep me curious about what was going to happen next.
Joan was definitely the heart of the story for me. I loved watching her discover her powers and slowly understand that learning how to control them was also tied to learning how to understand herself. Her magic felt connected to her identity in a way that made her journey feel much more personal than simply discovering that she had powers.
That being said, I wanted more from her character development. Joan has been through A LOT, and while her trauma is clearly important to her story, I sometimes felt like the book introduced something emotionally heavy and then moved on before I had enough time to really sit with it. I would’ve loved a messier, more gradual healing process because I think it would’ve made her growth hit even harder.
The pacing was another little issue for me. There were sections where the story dragged, and I definitely felt that slow-down. And as for the big twist… yeah, I unfortunately clocked that one early. The “mastermind” was suspicious enough from the beginning that the reveal felt more like confirmation than an actual surprise.
Even with those little flaws, I really enjoyed this. The atmosphere alone carried me through some of the slower moments, and I loved how the story balanced magic with themes of identity, power, and self-discovery.
Not a out of this world read, but definitely one that left an impression. Dark, strange, atmospheric, and beautifully written in that slightly eerie fairytale way. I had a genuinely good time with this one.
I was completely hooked by the premise. It has this dark, almost storybook quality to it, where everything feels magical and beautiful on the surface, but there’s always something lurking underneath. The world felt whimsical, eerie, and just unsettling enough to keep me curious about what was going to happen next.
Joan was definitely the heart of the story for me. I loved watching her discover her powers and slowly understand that learning how to control them was also tied to learning how to understand herself. Her magic felt connected to her identity in a way that made her journey feel much more personal than simply discovering that she had powers.
That being said, I wanted more from her character development. Joan has been through A LOT, and while her trauma is clearly important to her story, I sometimes felt like the book introduced something emotionally heavy and then moved on before I had enough time to really sit with it. I would’ve loved a messier, more gradual healing process because I think it would’ve made her growth hit even harder.
The pacing was another little issue for me. There were sections where the story dragged, and I definitely felt that slow-down. And as for the big twist… yeah, I unfortunately clocked that one early. The “mastermind” was suspicious enough from the beginning that the reveal felt more like confirmation than an actual surprise.
Even with those little flaws, I really enjoyed this. The atmosphere alone carried me through some of the slower moments, and I loved how the story balanced magic with themes of identity, power, and self-discovery.
Not a out of this world read, but definitely one that left an impression. Dark, strange, atmospheric, and beautifully written in that slightly eerie fairytale way. I had a genuinely good time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dear Reader,
The world of Gutterwitch is absolutely enchanting: literal stars with faces, adorable delivery mice and magical creatures from ocean folklore dripping with foam and pearls. A castle on a cliff by the sea. The atmospheric descriptions make me believe I experienced it all for myself and did not detract from the pace of the story. This was the part of the book I loved the most. Alongside this, there was a darker edge of themes to contrast addressing class, shame, betrayal. Is magic pure joy and delight or a result of pain in pursuit of power? Who should you trust beyond yourself esp. when it comes to questions as to who you are?
In many ways this book explores the mind, through mind magic but also the stories we ingest and create that shape how we view ourselves and the world. Although there were some lessons I wish Joan hadn’t needed to learn that made my heart ache for her, I was satisfied by her growth and the narratives she adopts as her own in the end. She is well-written in that she contains the contradiction of being hopeful, naive and trusting while scared and suspicious by her experiences and how she’s been wronged.
If you loved Wicked, I think this one will find its place with you following an Elphaba-like main character in Joan and a Galinda-like Belinda in the witch she’s grown up with and bound to with a similar balance of whimsy and dark truths.
This book does well in its foreshadowing and in all the included details, particularly the lore, so I advise a close read as I was well pleased by the craft-level recall employed.
A few of my favorite quotes to entice you (please note that these may be different from the published version):
“Some things are worth being scared for.”
“Not many people know this, but the stars are terrible gossips.”
“Light split the sky as I fell like a star toward the sea.”
This book would go best with a view of cliffs by the ocean or the sound of crashing waves or a clear night with bright stars. I hope you enjoy this read.
Yours ever,
Lady J
P.S. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC
The world of Gutterwitch is absolutely enchanting: literal stars with faces, adorable delivery mice and magical creatures from ocean folklore dripping with foam and pearls. A castle on a cliff by the sea. The atmospheric descriptions make me believe I experienced it all for myself and did not detract from the pace of the story. This was the part of the book I loved the most. Alongside this, there was a darker edge of themes to contrast addressing class, shame, betrayal. Is magic pure joy and delight or a result of pain in pursuit of power? Who should you trust beyond yourself esp. when it comes to questions as to who you are?
In many ways this book explores the mind, through mind magic but also the stories we ingest and create that shape how we view ourselves and the world. Although there were some lessons I wish Joan hadn’t needed to learn that made my heart ache for her, I was satisfied by her growth and the narratives she adopts as her own in the end. She is well-written in that she contains the contradiction of being hopeful, naive and trusting while scared and suspicious by her experiences and how she’s been wronged.
If you loved Wicked, I think this one will find its place with you following an Elphaba-like main character in Joan and a Galinda-like Belinda in the witch she’s grown up with and bound to with a similar balance of whimsy and dark truths.
This book does well in its foreshadowing and in all the included details, particularly the lore, so I advise a close read as I was well pleased by the craft-level recall employed.
A few of my favorite quotes to entice you (please note that these may be different from the published version):
“Some things are worth being scared for.”
“Not many people know this, but the stars are terrible gossips.”
“Light split the sky as I fell like a star toward the sea.”
This book would go best with a view of cliffs by the ocean or the sound of crashing waves or a clear night with bright stars. I hope you enjoy this read.
Yours ever,
Lady J
P.S. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF @ 40%
The summary was promising, maid to witch because she wished for it, dark academia, gothic vibes and ect. But you know, everything felt too predictable for me and at this point I wasn't having it. It wasn't for me when I was talking aloud with my husband about what would happen next after reading chapters and it would actually happen.
Thanks to netgalley and random house children's books for the earc. Sorry I couldn't bring myself to finish it as I would have liked.
edit: yes there were aspects I liked, but at the end of the day there were more things I wish were better and would have convinced me to continue to finish vs what I liked at the moment for what it was not for what it will be.
The summary was promising, maid to witch because she wished for it, dark academia, gothic vibes and ect. But you know, everything felt too predictable for me and at this point I wasn't having it. It wasn't for me when I was talking aloud with my husband about what would happen next after reading chapters and it would actually happen.
Thanks to netgalley and random house children's books for the earc. Sorry I couldn't bring myself to finish it as I would have liked.
edit: yes there were aspects I liked, but at the end of the day there were more things I wish were better and would have convinced me to continue to finish vs what I liked at the moment for what it was not for what it will be.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We have a main character Joan who was orphaned and became a scullery maid at age 11. She had a rough life and had to pledge her life to Belinda. Belinda is self entitled and does what her mother wants. She is not very nice to Joan. The world building is amazing and I knew something was up with Silas and ended up being even worse than what I was thinking. I love Casper and I am really hoping him and Joan get together. I love the magic and the story and I am ready to see what happens next. Thank you NetGalley and the Author for the read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh yeah this was a great read. I enjoyed the plot and descriptions of the world. I would read more from this author. Thank you Netgalley!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a really solid, engaging young adult fantasy. I really enjoyed the plot, it was fast paced and enjoyable, with plenty of intrigue and mystery, and a really fun magic system and world! The falling star concept is endlessly interesting as a premise, and I particularly loved the scenes that engaged with this, although I do wish (lol) we got even more detail regarding the magic, the lore, how it all works and the world surrounding the academy. That being said, this is maybe not the aim of the book, as providing something heartfelt and easy to read.
I enjoyed the academic setting, the writing style was great, and I loved the atmosphere the book embodied, like a dark fairy-tale, cautionary and fantastical. There were a lot of particularly poignant, emotional scenes, although I wish these were given more room to breathe.
My favourite part was probably some of the characterisation, and the relationships in the book, especially the character work and the complicated feelings between Joan and Belinda- I loved the complexity here! I loved Joan, her journey reckoning with herself and learning to accept her power, although I do think that more could've been done here, with more time spent dealing with her trauma and, specifically, the ramifications of that trauma on her life and personality now. It could've been more gritty, and her arc could've been less predictable.
The 'villains' were horrifically unlikeable and two- dimensional, which I understand in the sense that there are just some terrible, no good, irredeemable people, and there is no point in getting any closer to them, but from a personal preference perspective, I do like antagonists to be more complex! Anyway, take this one with a grain of salt.
The biggest negative of the book for me was that almost everything that happened was painfully predictable, to the point where it became frustrating that the main character, or even the male main character who was perhaps in a better position to be objective, couldn't figure things out. I saw all of the plot twists coming from a mile away, and although I liked the ending, I found it much less satisfying than I'd hoped, and it was, again, predictable, and dare I say, a little overdone as a trope.
There were also just a couple of elements that I felt weren't handled or justified properly.
Overall, however, I had a great time with Gutterwitch, and if it sounds like your vibe, I would absolutely recommend giving it a go!
I enjoyed the academic setting, the writing style was great, and I loved the atmosphere the book embodied, like a dark fairy-tale, cautionary and fantastical. There were a lot of particularly poignant, emotional scenes, although I wish these were given more room to breathe.
My favourite part was probably some of the characterisation, and the relationships in the book, especially the character work and the complicated feelings between Joan and Belinda- I loved the complexity here! I loved Joan, her journey reckoning with herself and learning to accept her power, although I do think that more could've been done here, with more time spent dealing with her trauma and, specifically, the ramifications of that trauma on her life and personality now. It could've been more gritty, and her arc could've been less predictable.
The 'villains' were horrifically unlikeable and two- dimensional, which I understand in the sense that there are just some terrible, no good, irredeemable people, and there is no point in getting any closer to them, but from a personal preference perspective, I do like antagonists to be more complex! Anyway, take this one with a grain of salt.
The biggest negative of the book for me was that almost everything that happened was painfully predictable, to the point where it became frustrating that the main character, or even the male main character who was perhaps in a better position to be objective, couldn't figure things out. I saw all of the plot twists coming from a mile away, and although I liked the ending, I found it much less satisfying than I'd hoped, and it was, again, predictable, and dare I say, a little overdone as a trope.
There were also just a couple of elements that I felt weren't handled or justified properly.
Overall, however, I had a great time with Gutterwitch, and if it sounds like your vibe, I would absolutely recommend giving it a go!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, the premise ATE. It feels like a fairytale where the protagonist wishes upon a star (like, quite literally), except apparently the universe doesn’t believe in free gifts and everything comes with a price. Because OF COURSE it does.
And it reminds me a lot of Wicked. It gave me that same dark fairytale feeling that made Wicked so memorable to me, and weirdly enough, reading this felt nostalgic and comforting even when things got properly eerie.
The world-building was honestly captivating. It was dark, whimsical, and a little unsettling, exactly how I like my fantasy settings. The writing made it pretty easy to dive into the story, although sometimes the plot did drag in places. Still, it didn’t ruin the overall experience.
I also really loved that the heart of the story is Joan’s self-discovery. Learning what her powers are, understanding them, and figuring out how to control them becomes this much deeper journey of understanding herself. It felt surprisingly reflective, and I was HERE for it.
But Joan has been through A LOT, and sometimes I felt like her trauma was introduced with all this emotional weight only to be wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted more time to actually see her healing process, or even better, give me a messier character development arc.
And the main twist… I’m sorry, but I CLOCKED IT. The supposed mastermind was suspicious as hell from the beginning, so when the reveal finally happened, I was basically sitting there like, “Mmhm. Yup. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.” It took away some of the fun of trying to figure out who was behind everything.
Overall, this was a dark and beautifully written fairytale with a captivating world and a moving self-discovery journey. A little draggy and predictable, but still a very enjoyable read!
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Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
And it reminds me a lot of Wicked. It gave me that same dark fairytale feeling that made Wicked so memorable to me, and weirdly enough, reading this felt nostalgic and comforting even when things got properly eerie.
The world-building was honestly captivating. It was dark, whimsical, and a little unsettling, exactly how I like my fantasy settings. The writing made it pretty easy to dive into the story, although sometimes the plot did drag in places. Still, it didn’t ruin the overall experience.
I also really loved that the heart of the story is Joan’s self-discovery. Learning what her powers are, understanding them, and figuring out how to control them becomes this much deeper journey of understanding herself. It felt surprisingly reflective, and I was HERE for it.
But Joan has been through A LOT, and sometimes I felt like her trauma was introduced with all this emotional weight only to be wrapped up a little too quickly. I wanted more time to actually see her healing process, or even better, give me a messier character development arc.
And the main twist… I’m sorry, but I CLOCKED IT. The supposed mastermind was suspicious as hell from the beginning, so when the reveal finally happened, I was basically sitting there like, “Mmhm. Yup. Thank you for confirming my suspicions.” It took away some of the fun of trying to figure out who was behind everything.
Overall, this was a dark and beautifully written fairytale with a captivating world and a moving self-discovery journey. A little draggy and predictable, but still a very enjoyable read!
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Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
This book is SO STINKING GOOD!!! Joan is such an engaging and thrilling protagonist - she is relatable, has a strong sense of voice, and her whole life trajectory changed with her one wish. Her relationship with Belinda reminded me a lot of Wicked - a scorned girl below her station who wears black and is friends with a blonde beautiful girl who supplements her lack of wits with charm and connections.
And Caspar gives such Cruel Prince vibes! Of course his personality is nothing like Cardan but it was sweet to see a black-haired fae character once more.
I ADORE the writing in this book and I’m so impressed that the sheer amount of plot and twists are contained to just this installment! The pacing was excellent. I highly recommend reading this book!!
This book is SO STINKING GOOD!!! Joan is such an engaging and thrilling protagonist - she is relatable, has a strong sense of voice, and her whole life trajectory changed with her one wish. Her relationship with Belinda reminded me a lot of Wicked - a scorned girl below her station who wears black and is friends with a blonde beautiful girl who supplements her lack of wits with charm and connections.
And Caspar gives such Cruel Prince vibes! Of course his personality is nothing like Cardan but it was sweet to see a black-haired fae character once more.
I ADORE the writing in this book and I’m so impressed that the sheer amount of plot and twists are contained to just this installment! The pacing was excellent. I highly recommend reading this book!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark and mystical and utterly romantic--this book feels like a centuries-old fairy tale that somehow also dissects so many current events and issues. The world is rich and the magic system is unique, and reading it feels like stepping into the Otherlands and experiencing it yourself.
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