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B*WITCH #2
Witch Rising
Sorrow Point High's witchiest have returned in this conclusion to the thrilling B*Witch duology—and this time, the danger is even closer to home.
Two rival covens, led by frenemies Greta and Div, are investigating a radical anti-magic faction—the New Order—for the murder of a sister witch. In fact, Div and her coven mate Mira are pretend-dating a couple of New Order members to infiltrate it and bring it down for good. But when the president of the United States aligns himself with the dangerous group and local police ramp up their search for suspected witches, the covens must be more careful than ever.
Even outside of politics, complications abound as Iris and the new witch, Torrence, fight for Greta's affections...and Ridley can't get over her crush on a dead girl...and Binx's own crush turns out to be harboring deadly secrets.
If the covens wish to solve their friend's murder and protect their kind, they'll have to rise above their problems, big and small. But as they grow closer to the truth, one thing becomes certain—trust no witch.
Two rival covens, led by frenemies Greta and Div, are investigating a radical anti-magic faction—the New Order—for the murder of a sister witch. In fact, Div and her coven mate Mira are pretend-dating a couple of New Order members to infiltrate it and bring it down for good. But when the president of the United States aligns himself with the dangerous group and local police ramp up their search for suspected witches, the covens must be more careful than ever.
Even outside of politics, complications abound as Iris and the new witch, Torrence, fight for Greta's affections...and Ridley can't get over her crush on a dead girl...and Binx's own crush turns out to be harboring deadly secrets.
If the covens wish to solve their friend's murder and protect their kind, they'll have to rise above their problems, big and small. But as they grow closer to the truth, one thing becomes certain—trust no witch.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2021
4 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Paige McKenzie
9 books836 followersPaige is the young star of the hit YouTube channel The Haunting of Sunshine Girl. What began as a simple “girl and her haunted house” story has grown to a multi-webisode network with stories of zombies, ghosts, Sasquatch and lots of Sunshine! Full of positivity, humor and plenty of scares, The Haunting of Sunshine Girl has allowed Paige to spread her unique brand of adorkableness to other teens (and many adults) all over the world! At the age of 16, Paige (along with her mother, actress Mercedes Rose and producing partner, Nick Hagen) co-founded the production company Coat Tale Productions.
Paige's latest book series, B*Witch from Hachette Books hit shelves in 2020. A sequel is planned for 2021. Paige lives in Portland, Oregon with her fur baby, Pongo.
Paige's latest book series, B*Witch from Hachette Books hit shelves in 2020. A sequel is planned for 2021. Paige lives in Portland, Oregon with her fur baby, Pongo.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 20, 2021
For the first 3/4 of this book, I had this mentally rated at a solid 3 stars. The characters were more developed than they were in the first book and there were genuine stakes to the political and personal situations that were developing. While some of the plot lines made this book that was less than 300 pages feel a bit overstuffed, they weren't unforgiveable in the grand scheme of things. They could have been taken out and nothing integral would have vanished from the story (so, they were added just to create more drama and make this feel a bit more like a literature version of a CW series, I guess), but they didn't make the story worse.
But then we got to the final 40 pages. And my GOD...it was bad. The ending was just a visualization of every trope I dislike in witch stories. Witch powers are seemingly unlimited and yet we're made to believe for almost two whole novels that these witches have any reason to be worried about anything in life? Check. Main characters think of crossing the morality line and killing people and no one ever points out to them that this is unacceptable? Check. Love potions used as a plot device? Check. Major problem that no one could find a way around is solved by a spell that no one had talked about in the previous 400 pages of story? Check. Last minute conceived villain gives away their entire plan for no apparent reason? Check. Oh, and the worst sin: bringing a character back from the dead with no real repercussions. Check. Look, I get it. You want to give the witch characters a happy ending, but all you did was consistently eradicate any mortal or emotional stakes readers had invested in your story. I like happy endings, but they have to be earned. No one here did anything that made me feel like they were people I should be rooting for.
This series had a lot of potential. It made interesting social commentary on the uneasy atmosphere felt by minority groups during President 45's oppressive regime. It brought LGBTQIA+ representation to the forefront of a mass produced YA novel (although, the Ace representation was conspicuously absent, but that's a rant for another day). But it consistently lacked follow through on the interesting ideas it was bringing up. Several characters think about how they believe witches are better than humans and other members of the coven think to themselves that this mentality is not going to help matters. But they NEVER bring this up to the people making the comments, so we're left with a plot thread that goes absolutely nowhere. If there was a planned third novel, this might make sense, but this is only a duology series. This plot point is probably one of the most important plots within the two books, but it's not developed to the extent it should have been. Instead, we get a lot of time reading about various characters crushes on other characters (living or dead) that also never really go anywhere. And while that's fine (cos most teen crushes go absolutely nowhere), when you're dealing with a book that's less than 300 pages long, you need to use that time wisely. And it just wasn't.
But then we got to the final 40 pages. And my GOD...it was bad. The ending was just a visualization of every trope I dislike in witch stories. Witch powers are seemingly unlimited and yet we're made to believe for almost two whole novels that these witches have any reason to be worried about anything in life? Check. Main characters think of crossing the morality line and killing people and no one ever points out to them that this is unacceptable? Check. Love potions used as a plot device? Check. Major problem that no one could find a way around is solved by a spell that no one had talked about in the previous 400 pages of story? Check. Last minute conceived villain gives away their entire plan for no apparent reason? Check. Oh, and the worst sin: bringing a character back from the dead with no real repercussions. Check. Look, I get it. You want to give the witch characters a happy ending, but all you did was consistently eradicate any mortal or emotional stakes readers had invested in your story. I like happy endings, but they have to be earned. No one here did anything that made me feel like they were people I should be rooting for.
This series had a lot of potential. It made interesting social commentary on the uneasy atmosphere felt by minority groups during President 45's oppressive regime. It brought LGBTQIA+ representation to the forefront of a mass produced YA novel (although, the Ace representation was conspicuously absent, but that's a rant for another day). But it consistently lacked follow through on the interesting ideas it was bringing up. Several characters think about how they believe witches are better than humans and other members of the coven think to themselves that this mentality is not going to help matters. But they NEVER bring this up to the people making the comments, so we're left with a plot thread that goes absolutely nowhere. If there was a planned third novel, this might make sense, but this is only a duology series. This plot point is probably one of the most important plots within the two books, but it's not developed to the extent it should have been. Instead, we get a lot of time reading about various characters crushes on other characters (living or dead) that also never really go anywhere. And while that's fine (cos most teen crushes go absolutely nowhere), when you're dealing with a book that's less than 300 pages long, you need to use that time wisely. And it just wasn't.
September 19, 2021
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Madalena Daleziou
Witch Rising while not perfect, is a fun fantasy book about coming out of dark times, about found family and learning to live as yourself—whatever that self might be. If you love (mostly) girl gangs, witchy aesthetics, and high school settings, this series is definitely for you.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
Witch Rising while not perfect, is a fun fantasy book about coming out of dark times, about found family and learning to live as yourself—whatever that self might be. If you love (mostly) girl gangs, witchy aesthetics, and high school settings, this series is definitely for you.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
January 3, 2023
In my typical fashion, I did not originally realize this was book two of a series.
All that considered, it's a fun read with teen witchy vibes, coming into your identity and has strong LGTBAQIA representation. It was a slow-paced read for me, but had a lot going on. It's not going to scare the average reader, but will likely make you smile.
All that considered, it's a fun read with teen witchy vibes, coming into your identity and has strong LGTBAQIA representation. It was a slow-paced read for me, but had a lot going on. It's not going to scare the average reader, but will likely make you smile.
November 2, 2021
Young adult paranormal, second in a series. The two witch covens of Sorrow Point are back. Greta has Ridley and Iris by her side, and has invited a new male classmate to join their coven. Div has Mira, Aysha, and now Binx (who left Greta's coven after a falling-out.) The anti-witch sentiment is increasing and President Ingraham is close to signing a stricter version of the 6-129 law forbidding witchcraft. The two covens are working together more due to the seriousness of the events happening around them. They are trying to blend in, to keep the spotlight off of them, so they find themselves on the homecoming committee and attending Antima meetings. There's also still the matter of Shadowknight, his true identity, and the heartfire.
This book would not really make sense without reading the first book as there is a lot of backstory. This book kept my attention and when I got near the end I was wondering how everything would be wrapped up in 40 pages. The answer unfortunately was that the ending was a bit too rushed and a bit too convenient, hence the 4 stars. Still an enjoyable read, with a lot of LGBTQ representation.
This book would not really make sense without reading the first book as there is a lot of backstory. This book kept my attention and when I got near the end I was wondering how everything would be wrapped up in 40 pages. The answer unfortunately was that the ending was a bit too rushed and a bit too convenient, hence the 4 stars. Still an enjoyable read, with a lot of LGBTQ representation.
October 12, 2022
very very mid, will definitely be unhauling lol, also the only thing I liked was Iris (they did her EXTREMELY dirty) and she didn’t even have that many character POV :( , pls don’t read this for spooky szn
May 18, 2022
Title: Witch Rising (B*WITCH series, #2)
Author: Paige McKenzie
Genre: YA contemporary fantasy
Age Recommendation: 11+ (Lots of crushes and love triangles and making out, plus death and danger. It's not super intense but I don't think kids under 11 would love this one.)
Our favorite group of teen witches are back! And just as fun, magical, and gay as ever. I missed these guys.
We've got Iris, an endearingly awkward witch with social anxiety, harboring a huge crush. Iris is a total geek (I mean this in the best way possible) and is part of a big family. Her grandma runs an adorable café. Plus, Iris is nonwhite and bi (I think?)
Then there's Greta, the leader of the coven. She's gentle and kind, with a love for plants, gardens, and animals. Greta's a redhead, has a cat familiar, and is wrestling with her complicated feelings for her frenemy. She's sapphic as well!
Ridley is a violinist, witch, and trans girl who has an amazingly supportive aunt. Ridley's mourning , trying to be a good friend while caught between two groups, and trying to figure out what's going on with a partially invisible mansion in the middle of the rainforest. Also, she's lesbian (I think).
Binx is a cyber-witch who left Greta's coven for Div's. She's dealing with her absent father, who her online friend really is, and how different it is being in Div's coven. Binx is Japanese and has incredibly powerful magic.
Div is the cunning leader of the other coven and Greta's frenemy. She knows what she wants and how she's going to get it, and doesn't hold back. Div is unquestionably in charge and a powerful witch, with a snake for a familiar. Plus she's sapphic. Mira and Aysha are the other members of her coven.
I love these characters so much. They're definitely my favorite part of this book. There were some cool plot twists for sure, though! Despite this, I felt like the ending was a little too perfect.
As for the romance... it was alright. The love triangle wasn't actually too bad, since I liked the characters. Binx's infatuation with ShadowKnight despite never having met him was a little weird, though.
The plot consisted of thinly veiled political opinions. I didn't really mind it, but all the Antima stuff didn't feel super original. The POV switches worked just fine, and the writing style was fast-paced and simple; easy to read.
In the end, I love this coven. I love the characters. But this book didn't conclude the duology in a super-successful way. It was okay, but not great.
Characters: ★★★★✫ 4.5 stars
Plot: ★★ 2 stars
Setting: ★★★ 3 stars
Writing Style/Format: ★★★★ 4 stars
Theme: ★★★✫ 3.5 stars
Author: Paige McKenzie
Genre: YA contemporary fantasy
Age Recommendation: 11+ (Lots of crushes and love triangles and making out, plus death and danger. It's not super intense but I don't think kids under 11 would love this one.)
Our favorite group of teen witches are back! And just as fun, magical, and gay as ever. I missed these guys.
We've got Iris, an endearingly awkward witch with social anxiety, harboring a huge crush. Iris is a total geek (I mean this in the best way possible) and is part of a big family. Her grandma runs an adorable café. Plus, Iris is nonwhite and bi (I think?)
Then there's Greta, the leader of the coven. She's gentle and kind, with a love for plants, gardens, and animals. Greta's a redhead, has a cat familiar, and is wrestling with her complicated feelings for her frenemy. She's sapphic as well!
Ridley is a violinist, witch, and trans girl who has an amazingly supportive aunt. Ridley's mourning , trying to be a good friend while caught between two groups, and trying to figure out what's going on with a partially invisible mansion in the middle of the rainforest. Also, she's lesbian (I think).
Binx is a cyber-witch who left Greta's coven for Div's. She's dealing with her absent father, who her online friend really is, and how different it is being in Div's coven. Binx is Japanese and has incredibly powerful magic.
Div is the cunning leader of the other coven and Greta's frenemy. She knows what she wants and how she's going to get it, and doesn't hold back. Div is unquestionably in charge and a powerful witch, with a snake for a familiar. Plus she's sapphic. Mira and Aysha are the other members of her coven.
I love these characters so much. They're definitely my favorite part of this book. There were some cool plot twists for sure, though! Despite this, I felt like the ending was a little too perfect.
As for the romance... it was alright. The love triangle wasn't actually too bad, since I liked the characters. Binx's infatuation with ShadowKnight despite never having met him was a little weird, though.
The plot consisted of thinly veiled political opinions. I didn't really mind it, but all the Antima stuff didn't feel super original. The POV switches worked just fine, and the writing style was fast-paced and simple; easy to read.
In the end, I love this coven. I love the characters. But this book didn't conclude the duology in a super-successful way. It was okay, but not great.
Characters: ★★★★✫ 4.5 stars
Plot: ★★ 2 stars
Setting: ★★★ 3 stars
Writing Style/Format: ★★★★ 4 stars
Theme: ★★★✫ 3.5 stars
October 25, 2022
This story is a sequel to the book B*Witch. It’s about two witch covens from Sorrow Point, Washington, who have to hide their witch identities due to a law against them, along with many people called ‘Antima’ who are basically witch haters. Currently there is a new group of people called the New Order similar to the Antima, and now along with trying to solve the death of a witch they must stop the New Order to save all witches.
This was a really good book and I enjoyed reading it. There was a lot going on in the story but I think it did a good job on explaining it. I like how different chapters have it from the perspectives of different characters, it shows other pieces of the story and the importance of each character. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would give it a 9/10.
-Review by Margaret
This was a really good book and I enjoyed reading it. There was a lot going on in the story but I think it did a good job on explaining it. I like how different chapters have it from the perspectives of different characters, it shows other pieces of the story and the importance of each character. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would give it a 9/10.
-Review by Margaret
December 14, 2022
This was really a 3.8 for me but I’m rounding up to be generous lol.
There were definitely a lot of improvements in this book. The writing quality has definitely matured and other than the abrupt climax (which was also an issue in the last novel) the plot is actually pretty evenly spaced & doesn’t wait until we’re halfway through the story to start/pick up.
I kinda feel like this was originally supposed to be a trilogy but got cut short for some reason, because there’s a decent handful of plot threads that are started in this book that are either resolved offscreen (or offpage in this case lol) or just not even addressed at all. But just like the last book, it was still an enjoyable read.
There were definitely a lot of improvements in this book. The writing quality has definitely matured and other than the abrupt climax (which was also an issue in the last novel) the plot is actually pretty evenly spaced & doesn’t wait until we’re halfway through the story to start/pick up.
I kinda feel like this was originally supposed to be a trilogy but got cut short for some reason, because there’s a decent handful of plot threads that are started in this book that are either resolved offscreen (or offpage in this case lol) or just not even addressed at all. But just like the last book, it was still an enjoyable read.
October 8, 2021
Where is the audiobook version for this book? A little disappointed that the first one had a audiobook version and this one doesn't.
This series was fun but felt a little rushed. It was quite slow in the beginning and then picked up about half way through. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and there could have been like an extra 100 pages. Still throughly liked it and enjoyed reading this one. There are a lot of characters to keep track of in this series and am really glad I reread the first book before re-delving into this world otherwise I would have been really confused.
This series was fun but felt a little rushed. It was quite slow in the beginning and then picked up about half way through. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and there could have been like an extra 100 pages. Still throughly liked it and enjoyed reading this one. There are a lot of characters to keep track of in this series and am really glad I reread the first book before re-delving into this world otherwise I would have been really confused.
March 12, 2023
This was a cute but also very interesting book, I liked it and I feel like if your in the mood for a light read that also keeps you interested, this is the book for you. Also, don't miss the first book in this duology!
April 28, 2022
This book sequel was super cute! A little cheesy, but I like a good cheese 🧀 😋
If you want a book about cute, queer coded witches that ends in a happy ending, this is the book series for you. ❤️
If you want a book about cute, queer coded witches that ends in a happy ending, this is the book series for you. ❤️
June 13, 2022
Little slow to get through. Preferred the first book.
November 20, 2022
I was so hyped for this book (and the first) and was just seriously disappointed by them. I should have listened to the reviews and not bothered. Sad face.
January 18, 2025
Really good story. The ending felt a bit rushed but still really good.
December 21, 2022
This was one of the first books i read when i started getting into reading, and it was worth it. The mystery was described perfectly, as well as the challenges of school and friends. I really enjoyed this book, and i'm excited to read the sequel.
July 3, 2022
Got me out of a long reading slump, easy and entertaining read
Overall i really liked this series but i wish this book had been longer. It felt a little too much at times and i got me wondering how the story would close in so little pages.
I love the characters and the LGBTQIA representation but i wish we’d had more time to explore in details the characters relationship with each other since they felt a bit rushed in the epilogue
I loved the first book and this one felt rushed at times compared to the previous one but still good and i enjoyed reading it
Edit on july 3rd:
Lowering this to 3 stars bcs it’s definitely not as good as my other 4 stars books. Still really enjoyable.
Overall i really liked this series but i wish this book had been longer. It felt a little too much at times and i got me wondering how the story would close in so little pages.
I love the characters and the LGBTQIA representation but i wish we’d had more time to explore in details the characters relationship with each other since they felt a bit rushed in the epilogue
I loved the first book and this one felt rushed at times compared to the previous one but still good and i enjoyed reading it
Edit on july 3rd:
Lowering this to 3 stars bcs it’s definitely not as good as my other 4 stars books. Still really enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews