Hekate's Tea

by Anthony Ciulla

A young woman learns that she's been chosen to enforce the will of the goddess, Hekate. She quickly learns that power comes at a cost and magic isn't a toy! As a teenage girl, Hellana is forced to choose: sacrifice everything she loves or suffer silently in solitude. The balance of good and evil is essential on Earth, it's time to get to work!

188 pages, ebook

Published February 11, 2022

Reviews

[Priscilla King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellana Hoggelmaier, whose friends call her Hell, is chosen to channel the power of Hekate but soon finds out the hard way that using her powers will have a terrible price. The more alarmist kind of Christian readers are free to read this as a story of how the cosmic Evil Principle uses teenagers' idealism to entrap them in a life and afterlife of torment. Hell has good intentions; I hope the sequel will show her learning more about how to use her power in the service of those good intentions.

[alisha marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the idea about Hell having Hekate's powers and using them for good deeds. Maybe that's exactly what we need in this world! Loved that it was a short book and also a very quick read because it was hard to put down. I have to say though that sometimes it was a little too fast paced and some questions were left unanswered. You can tell the writer is just starting out compared to the books from authors who have lots of experience but of course that’s a given. Also Hell became a more and more unsympathetic character to me over the course of the book because of some her actions and just the way she handled things. Overall a 3,5/4-star read for me!

[Chelsi Parrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hekate's Tea

Anthony Ciulla's "Hekate's Tea" masterfully blends dark fantasy with science fiction, offering a deep dive into the complex dynamics of inherited power. The novel centers on Hellana, a teenager who inherits formidable powers from the goddess Hekate, only to face harrowing moral dilemmas. Ciulla's narrative is rich with imaginative and sharp writing that extends beyond conventional love stories, introducing dark, disturbing elements alongside the whimsical lore of Hekate. This blend of supernatural intrigue and social commentary captures the spiritual ramifications of Hellana's choices, weaving a thought-provoking tale of power, sacrifice, and responsibility.

[Olivia Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully blends dark fantasy with science fiction

I recently enjoyed this captivating novel by Anthony Ciulla that masterfully blends dark fantasy with science fiction and social commentary. The story delves into themes of power, love, and the profound impact of our choices. With its unique genre fusion, the book appeals to a broad audience, offering a complex narrative that challenges its characters in deeply meaningful ways. As a fellow Floridian, I found the reflections on real-world issues particularly relatable. This thought-provoking book will leave you contemplating the true cost of wielding extraordinary powers, staying with you long after the final page.

[Daniel Williams]

Dark and forbidden!

Ciulla's genre-blending dark fantasy follows Hellana, a teen granted immense powers by the goddess Hekate, but at a devastating cost to loved ones. Set in a mystically-infused modern world, the novel excels in complex characterization and thought-provoking examinations of power, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas. While pacing lags at times, the compelling narrative and unique premise, fusing supernatural thrills with insightful social commentary, make for an engrossing read. An excellent dark fantasy debut brimming with personal stakes.

[Vanessa Krauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a rough book, but it is a very interesting and different book. It's something that I'd like to see the author reattempt since the premise is unique and an experience I can't claim I've seen in other books. Quite "witchy."
It does need a lot of polish, it does need better pacing. It's something that I will however purchase again in the future and be happy to have in my TBR as a revised version.

[Hayley Phoenix-Winterburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

The premise of the story is so much fun, and I love to see new witchy reads coming out.

This is a very rough book grammatically and structurally. The sudden format changes, font size changes, and what I would consider "filler" scenes prevented me from giving any more stars. There is a lot of room for improvement, but the overall vibe and creativity is fantastic!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

This was different. And interesting. It was good. But I felt like it was missing something. But I'm glad I still read it because it was an unusual read and I liked the pictures when the new chapter starts, that was cool. I'm interested in continuing the journey of hell though and seeing where she ends up in the end.

[Asalia Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I was moved by what I read, I learned so much about who Goddess Hecate is and her abilities and what she can do for humanity & her chosen followers. Mother Hecate refered this book to me she put it in my path after a ritual & offerings of food and incantations.. O hail Mother Hecate..

[Joshua Easton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing

I genuinely appreciated the movie of this story as I found myself looping over who our heroine could trust as she traversed through the dimensions. Funny at times as well as the references to actual beings I totally missed as characters. I can go for another adventure.

[Joseph Farr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cost of Power

Anthony Ciulla’s novel does a good job blending dark fantasy, science fiction, and social commentary. It offers a thoughtful exploration of power and choice.

[Andrew Heister · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great ride

Great character development, and excellent writing. I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Also, I really like the cover design!

[Mr. E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Dark Fantasy

I enjoged this deep dark fantasy about the main character Hellana. The story has fantastic layers and well extremely written.

[Beverley Turnquest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice

A good read. This was unique and caught me off guard. Not what I expected but that in this instance was a very good thing.

[A K Wilson]

loved it

Kept me on my toes absolutely loved it definitely a page turner and kept wanting more
Looking forward reading more !