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Waking the Witch
'I tried to keep you safe, but I see now that I can't. They won't stop until they have you . . .'
When Ivy's search for her mother draws her to a remote Welsh isle, she uncovers a dark secret about her past.
An ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy, and her only chance of survival is to look deep within herself.
For not every story in legend is true, and some evils are not what they seem.
A darkly spellbinding tale of female empowerment, steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend.
When Ivy's search for her mother draws her to a remote Welsh isle, she uncovers a dark secret about her past.
An ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy, and her only chance of survival is to look deep within herself.
For not every story in legend is true, and some evils are not what they seem.
A darkly spellbinding tale of female empowerment, steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend.
258 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2022
37 people are currently reading
2036 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
August 20, 2022
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Kaleidoscopic Book Tours.
Waking the Witch is an amazing, creepy and unputdownable YA witchy fantasy book I just couldn't pull away from!
Ivy was abandoned at a motorway service station as a baby and has been in care all her life. After a very strange event happening at her place of work, Seventeen-year-old Ivy goes in search of her mother with numerous questions she wants the answer to. Tom (her friend at work) takes Ivy to find her mum and a whole manner of strange and disturbing things begin to happen to and around them. This book was really creepy in places and had me glancing around the room. I loved Ivy's connection to the witches and her budding relationship with Tom and can't wait to read book 2!
This book is steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend which was really interesting and blended really well within the story!
Waking the Witch is an amazing, creepy and unputdownable YA witchy fantasy book I just couldn't pull away from!
Ivy was abandoned at a motorway service station as a baby and has been in care all her life. After a very strange event happening at her place of work, Seventeen-year-old Ivy goes in search of her mother with numerous questions she wants the answer to. Tom (her friend at work) takes Ivy to find her mum and a whole manner of strange and disturbing things begin to happen to and around them. This book was really creepy in places and had me glancing around the room. I loved Ivy's connection to the witches and her budding relationship with Tom and can't wait to read book 2!
This book is steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend which was really interesting and blended really well within the story!
May 24, 2022
Wow. Just wow. Absolutely fantastic read from start to finish.
Please tell me there is a book 2??
On my top Author list - can literally not fault the writing or the story one bit.
Please tell me there is a book 2??
On my top Author list - can literally not fault the writing or the story one bit.
July 23, 2022
Waking The Witch is a deliciously witchy, feminist and delightfully creepy YA fantasy that’s full of atmospheric prose and steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend which I found utterly intriguing.
It follows seventeen year old Ivy, who after year spent in the foster system has finally tracked down her biological mother (who abandoned her at a motorway service station) to a remote Welsh island which some experts claim to be the legendary isle of Avalon.
But, in finding her mother Ivy has uncovered at dark secret about her past. Now, an ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy and her only chance of survival to look deep within herself. For not every story in Legend is true and some evils are not what they seem…
It’s an enchanting allegorical tale of female empowerment and sisterhood that I throughly enjoyed. I loved how it subverts a lot of the popular portrayals of Arthurian Legend especially Morgan Le Fay who I really liked.
I loved quite alot of the characters, including our protagonist Ivy who was a well written and endearingly relatable character. She goes through quiet a lot (having to deal with a lecherous and misogynistic boss before anything creepy or strange even happens) but her slow burn friendship with Tom—their witty banter and jokey comments to one another was a real highlight. Watching Ivy navigate her complex emotions surrounding her life in the care system, constantly feeling like she doesn’t belong but ultimately choosing to open up to Tom (and to include him in her emotional journey) was just a joy to witness.
Their friendship dynamic does veer slightly into romance in the second half of the book and I’m hoping this isn’t a standalone as I’d love to see more of Tom and Ivy together.
I also loved her growing bond with Morgan and the other witches (Glitonea and Thiten especially) who are probably some of the first people to truly welcome, encourage and make her feel she belongs for the first time in her life.
The setting was throughly atmospheric and the island, wild and isolated from human life (beside Ivy’s mum) really helped to bring the mythological magic to life, especially the sinister feeling of unease and foreboding which impressively managed to linger for the entire book—I have to say I was definitely on the edge of my seat both dreading and anticipating that something terrible was about to occur.
Overall an engaging, feminist and thoroughly enchanting read that fans of witchy, eery coming-of-age YA fantasy are bound to enjoy. This is the first book by Rachel Burge I’ve ever read and I can honestly say it won’t be the last!
A massive thank you to Molly at Hot Key Books and Kaleidoscopic Tours for the finished copy and for including me on the book tour.
It follows seventeen year old Ivy, who after year spent in the foster system has finally tracked down her biological mother (who abandoned her at a motorway service station) to a remote Welsh island which some experts claim to be the legendary isle of Avalon.
But, in finding her mother Ivy has uncovered at dark secret about her past. Now, an ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy and her only chance of survival to look deep within herself. For not every story in Legend is true and some evils are not what they seem…
It’s an enchanting allegorical tale of female empowerment and sisterhood that I throughly enjoyed. I loved how it subverts a lot of the popular portrayals of Arthurian Legend especially Morgan Le Fay who I really liked.
I loved quite alot of the characters, including our protagonist Ivy who was a well written and endearingly relatable character. She goes through quiet a lot (having to deal with a lecherous and misogynistic boss before anything creepy or strange even happens) but her slow burn friendship with Tom—their witty banter and jokey comments to one another was a real highlight. Watching Ivy navigate her complex emotions surrounding her life in the care system, constantly feeling like she doesn’t belong but ultimately choosing to open up to Tom (and to include him in her emotional journey) was just a joy to witness.
Their friendship dynamic does veer slightly into romance in the second half of the book and I’m hoping this isn’t a standalone as I’d love to see more of Tom and Ivy together.
I also loved her growing bond with Morgan and the other witches (Glitonea and Thiten especially) who are probably some of the first people to truly welcome, encourage and make her feel she belongs for the first time in her life.
The setting was throughly atmospheric and the island, wild and isolated from human life (beside Ivy’s mum) really helped to bring the mythological magic to life, especially the sinister feeling of unease and foreboding which impressively managed to linger for the entire book—I have to say I was definitely on the edge of my seat both dreading and anticipating that something terrible was about to occur.
Overall an engaging, feminist and thoroughly enchanting read that fans of witchy, eery coming-of-age YA fantasy are bound to enjoy. This is the first book by Rachel Burge I’ve ever read and I can honestly say it won’t be the last!
A massive thank you to Molly at Hot Key Books and Kaleidoscopic Tours for the finished copy and for including me on the book tour.
August 4, 2022
This book grabbed me from the start. It was very addictive and I throughly enjoyed it. A little creepy at times but, that didn’t bother me. I do hope this series continues as I would love to find out what happens next. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2022
I adored this book, well written with an enchating storyline and well developed characters. Gripping and full of myth, legend and folklore. It workd really well as a standalone but the greedy bookworm in me would love this as a series as I didn't want it to end.
August 19, 2022
“Emotional honesty is the greatest gift you can give to a person, for when you’re vulnerable with another it allows them to do the same. It gives them permission to be who they truly are.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
This is an absolutely utterly fabulous witchy book. It’s based around Arthurian legend, and to be honest I didn’t even know there were such books out there. It’s made me want to binge watch Merlin the series on TV. I tried to control myself because I was taking part in a five day read along with Tandem Collective UK, but that didn’t go to plan, and I finished it on day 3, which was still me trying to be good! I just got pulled in to this book. It was action-packed and something was happening on every page to keep the reader hooked.
I loved the storyline. You have coming of age, found family, witches, Arthurian legend, friendship and attraction, as well as reincarnation, to name just a slice of this book. The books title completely correspond with the story, which I find a lot of books don’t nowadays. It was really original and fully based on a real place called Bardsey Island in Wales. It’s perfectly picturesque but basically deserted in the winter! Rachel Burge portrayed the isle perfectly within her writing, even down to the facts surrounding the upkeep of the summer cottages. It was thoroughly researched, which is refreshing.
There was also a massive theme of female empowerment. Ivy was fabulous, she was always ready with comebacks to however she was treated from the page one, even telling a customer at the butterfly house that he would probably prefer to hear from a colleague who is male just because he has a p*n*s, rather than from her because she has qualifications! She was witty and funny and entertaining. The other characters were great too, and I can’t wait for the second instalment!
I really enjoyed this book, and will happily make Rachel Burge an auto-buy author in the future. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a witchy book!
Thank you to the Tandem Collective UK for selecting me as a VIP for this readalong and to them and Hot Key Books for the gifted ARC.
Buy here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10977/97814...
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✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
This is an absolutely utterly fabulous witchy book. It’s based around Arthurian legend, and to be honest I didn’t even know there were such books out there. It’s made me want to binge watch Merlin the series on TV. I tried to control myself because I was taking part in a five day read along with Tandem Collective UK, but that didn’t go to plan, and I finished it on day 3, which was still me trying to be good! I just got pulled in to this book. It was action-packed and something was happening on every page to keep the reader hooked.
I loved the storyline. You have coming of age, found family, witches, Arthurian legend, friendship and attraction, as well as reincarnation, to name just a slice of this book. The books title completely correspond with the story, which I find a lot of books don’t nowadays. It was really original and fully based on a real place called Bardsey Island in Wales. It’s perfectly picturesque but basically deserted in the winter! Rachel Burge portrayed the isle perfectly within her writing, even down to the facts surrounding the upkeep of the summer cottages. It was thoroughly researched, which is refreshing.
There was also a massive theme of female empowerment. Ivy was fabulous, she was always ready with comebacks to however she was treated from the page one, even telling a customer at the butterfly house that he would probably prefer to hear from a colleague who is male just because he has a p*n*s, rather than from her because she has qualifications! She was witty and funny and entertaining. The other characters were great too, and I can’t wait for the second instalment!
I really enjoyed this book, and will happily make Rachel Burge an auto-buy author in the future. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a witchy book!
Thank you to the Tandem Collective UK for selecting me as a VIP for this readalong and to them and Hot Key Books for the gifted ARC.
Buy here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10977/97814...
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June 17, 2022
Everything about this book intrigued me and drew me in. The nod to arthurian legend, witches, Merlin. It balanced a great horror element with fantasy and right from the get go, I knew I was hooked.
I instantly warmed to Ivy’s character and found that whenever I put the book down, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again to rejoin the story. The more I read, the more invested I became and wow, as I continued on, it definitely turned into ways I hadn’t envisaged!
I’ve never read anything by this author before but after this one, I’m certainly interested in any other of her books. Addicted to say the least and to the very last page I was kept on the edge of my seat. It was absolutely brilliant! Need the next one stat!
Thank you to the publisher and author for this book via NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
I instantly warmed to Ivy’s character and found that whenever I put the book down, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again to rejoin the story. The more I read, the more invested I became and wow, as I continued on, it definitely turned into ways I hadn’t envisaged!
I’ve never read anything by this author before but after this one, I’m certainly interested in any other of her books. Addicted to say the least and to the very last page I was kept on the edge of my seat. It was absolutely brilliant! Need the next one stat!
Thank you to the publisher and author for this book via NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
July 15, 2022
When I started this book I thought it was going to be another over powered teen with a terrible life who comes along and saves the day and wins the boy. But while it did go along this way to a certain degree, there is much more to the story than this.
The background that has its roots in the arthurian lore is good, like really good. Some neat little twists to the basics, which fits the story in a perfect way. The "bad" guys are not bad at all, but quite creepy with what happens to them.
A nice little read, something easy and not heavy, and perfect to relax and sit back with.
The background that has its roots in the arthurian lore is good, like really good. Some neat little twists to the basics, which fits the story in a perfect way. The "bad" guys are not bad at all, but quite creepy with what happens to them.
A nice little read, something easy and not heavy, and perfect to relax and sit back with.
June 25, 2022
Brilliant as usual! It was a different tone to Rachel's previous books, but still filled with myth, legend and intrigue. The things Ivy discovers about herself are fascinating and fantastical. A really good story, and I hope there is a sequel!
Read
August 6, 2022DNF this book at over 50%, I can’t bring myself to read anymore.
I’m not the intended audience for this- it’s YA but definitely more middle grade/YA rather than upper.
It took a while for the plot to start moving, and I was hoping for more darkness and creepiness from the witches and it isn’t like that.
Thank you NetGalley for the E-Arc!
I’m not the intended audience for this- it’s YA but definitely more middle grade/YA rather than upper.
It took a while for the plot to start moving, and I was hoping for more darkness and creepiness from the witches and it isn’t like that.
Thank you NetGalley for the E-Arc!
July 16, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Hot Key Books for the eARC. This was given to me in exchange for an honest review. I would like to note that I have also picked up a finished copy as they were for sale early at YALC in London last weekend, when Rachel was there to sign her books. This does not influence my review, however I would like to make it known that Rachel and the final copy of this book are lovely.
Firstly - Rachel has given me everything atmospheric and creepy that I loved in her first duology, but based it on an island in Wales and I am here for it. I'm not a horror reader, and I'm not the best with thrillers either but give me Mythology that makes me want to keep the lights on so I can keep turning pages?? I'm sold.
Second - The way Arthurian legend has been spun through this book, is so cool. It's so subtle while Ivy is learning and it increases as she learns and just Ahhh. Learning with the characters is my favourite way to have a plot evolve and I am HAPPY.
Third - Ivy. Can I hug her? Just a little bit.
Four - The family / Sisterhood / Found Family / Friendship plots within this book are *chefs kiss*. I'm not saying more for spoilers but just... Yes.
Five - I am HOPING that there is a second book coming. Please? Maybe just a little one?
Firstly - Rachel has given me everything atmospheric and creepy that I loved in her first duology, but based it on an island in Wales and I am here for it. I'm not a horror reader, and I'm not the best with thrillers either but give me Mythology that makes me want to keep the lights on so I can keep turning pages?? I'm sold.
Second - The way Arthurian legend has been spun through this book, is so cool. It's so subtle while Ivy is learning and it increases as she learns and just Ahhh. Learning with the characters is my favourite way to have a plot evolve and I am HAPPY.
Third - Ivy. Can I hug her? Just a little bit.
Four - The family / Sisterhood / Found Family / Friendship plots within this book are *chefs kiss*. I'm not saying more for spoilers but just... Yes.
Five - I am HOPING that there is a second book coming. Please? Maybe just a little one?
July 26, 2022
LOVED this book!! I enjoy a witchy read, when I first saw about this book - firstly the cover really grabbed my attention as it’s stunning with beautiful colours and then the synopsis really intrigued me. Didn’t disappoint - absolutely incredible.
I devoured Waking the Witch in two sittings, the pacing was perfect and I found myself not wanting to put it down even though I’d tell myself one more chapter. The characters were great - Tom was so lovely (he actually reminded me of my other half who is also called Tom - someone who always wants to help people!). Ivy is incredible and full of determination.
The descriptions were perfectly written, giving a clear picture of the scenes, it really gave dark, creepy and mysterious vibes which I am all for! Loved the atmosphere on the island and by the lighthouse (although don’t read before you go to bed, you might be a bit scared like me 😝🤣).
I don’t often read YA but I can hands down say this was just an outstanding read, praying for a sequel 🤞🏻 this is my first read by Rachel Burge and I’m eyeing up The Twisted Tree and sequel The Crooked Mask as I just can’t wait to read more by the author.
Waking the Witch is published 18 August 2022.
I devoured Waking the Witch in two sittings, the pacing was perfect and I found myself not wanting to put it down even though I’d tell myself one more chapter. The characters were great - Tom was so lovely (he actually reminded me of my other half who is also called Tom - someone who always wants to help people!). Ivy is incredible and full of determination.
The descriptions were perfectly written, giving a clear picture of the scenes, it really gave dark, creepy and mysterious vibes which I am all for! Loved the atmosphere on the island and by the lighthouse (although don’t read before you go to bed, you might be a bit scared like me 😝🤣).
I don’t often read YA but I can hands down say this was just an outstanding read, praying for a sequel 🤞🏻 this is my first read by Rachel Burge and I’m eyeing up The Twisted Tree and sequel The Crooked Mask as I just can’t wait to read more by the author.
Waking the Witch is published 18 August 2022.
August 17, 2022
Waking the Witch is absolutely my sort of read. I love YA fiction and it’s refreshing to see something set in England / Wales as many of YA authors are American. I enjoyed the Twisted Tree and Crooked House so had high hopes for this.
Whereas The Twisted Tree is wrapped around Norse Mythology, Waking the Witch follows a tale of Arthurian Legend, but with a female-lead and female-empowered lead.
Where it is similar to Burge’s previous novels is in that way in which it is a gripping and compelling story, beautifully told with elegant and descriptive language. From the opening line, an implication of metamorphosis, growth and coming of age, Burge creates characters who are believable within their universe and allows us to become invested in their hopes as we follow them on their journey. Ivy is the kind of main character every YA novel deserves.
Whereas The Twisted Tree is wrapped around Norse Mythology, Waking the Witch follows a tale of Arthurian Legend, but with a female-lead and female-empowered lead.
Where it is similar to Burge’s previous novels is in that way in which it is a gripping and compelling story, beautifully told with elegant and descriptive language. From the opening line, an implication of metamorphosis, growth and coming of age, Burge creates characters who are believable within their universe and allows us to become invested in their hopes as we follow them on their journey. Ivy is the kind of main character every YA novel deserves.
August 18, 2022
I would like to thank Readers First and Hot Key books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a review
A wonderfully evocative and positive opening with Ivy, our protagonist, thinking of something that she loves - a butterfly emerging after it's metamorphosis, of being freed. Slowly you are being drawn into the story, and what a story it is.
Ivy is 17, and having been abandoned by her birth mother as a baby she has begun her journey in life in care. Constantly shunted around between children's homes and foster carers, always searching and hoping for a forever home.
But Ivy has also been searching for her birth mother, and she may just have found her. Circumstances have given Ivy the chance to physically search for her mother and she takes it.
And so Ivy begins her quest for her birth mother. All the time questioning - why was she abandoned, why did her mother not love or care for Ivy, has she got any other family? Brothers and sisters? Or other family members?
Ivy's journey is not an easy one, taking her taking her across Wales and to a small remote island. The quest for her birth mother draws Ivy into a darker and more complicated world than she expected. With the journey encompassing the myths and legends of Merlin and King Arthur, Ivy needs all of her mental and emotional strength that she can summon in order to reach through and find the light in all of the darkness.
* * * * * * *
The characters are written with depth and personality; and descriptions of their appearance and traits/habits. They are realistic believable people - characters with life, not flat cardboard cutouts.
Rachel Burge's writing style is both breathtaking and haunting as she weaves us, the reader, through the story. Taking us by the hand on a journey into the darkness and withdrawing us, then returning us to even darker moments.
It is a journey for the senses - the sights, sounds and smells wrapping themselves around us.
Death's head moths circling overhead foreshadowing difficulties ahead. Smells of overripe fruit and rotting vegetation, the stench of decay.
Deliciously brooding and gothic descriptive phrasing littered throughout.
Words curling into her like fish hooks; tongue is swollen and flaps like an eel; a wail of rage so terrifying it could rip the flesh from a rodent's back; rotting flesh mixed with the acrid stench of sulphur; reaching into the swirling darkness coming from his mouth; not watching the shadows, but looking for the light . . . . (gulp!)
Themes of abandonment and decay throughout: abandoned baby; empty cottages; closed-up schoolroom; crumbling abbey and lopsided gravestones. Abandoned island, people gone, farm animals gone, nothing that is human or living left.
All of these descriptions combined create a sumptuously enchanting, atmospheric setting and an ideal read leading up to Halloween.
Threaded throughout the story there is the underlying theme of metamorphosis - the caterpillars turning into butterflies and moths; Ivy on the verge of adulthood - both telling of the change from youth to maturity. Also changing from someone you think you should be, to becoming the real person who is inside you.
Waking the Witch? It is also about waking your real self.
A wonderfully evocative and positive opening with Ivy, our protagonist, thinking of something that she loves - a butterfly emerging after it's metamorphosis, of being freed. Slowly you are being drawn into the story, and what a story it is.
Ivy is 17, and having been abandoned by her birth mother as a baby she has begun her journey in life in care. Constantly shunted around between children's homes and foster carers, always searching and hoping for a forever home.
But Ivy has also been searching for her birth mother, and she may just have found her. Circumstances have given Ivy the chance to physically search for her mother and she takes it.
And so Ivy begins her quest for her birth mother. All the time questioning - why was she abandoned, why did her mother not love or care for Ivy, has she got any other family? Brothers and sisters? Or other family members?
Ivy's journey is not an easy one, taking her taking her across Wales and to a small remote island. The quest for her birth mother draws Ivy into a darker and more complicated world than she expected. With the journey encompassing the myths and legends of Merlin and King Arthur, Ivy needs all of her mental and emotional strength that she can summon in order to reach through and find the light in all of the darkness.
* * * * * * *
The characters are written with depth and personality; and descriptions of their appearance and traits/habits. They are realistic believable people - characters with life, not flat cardboard cutouts.
Rachel Burge's writing style is both breathtaking and haunting as she weaves us, the reader, through the story. Taking us by the hand on a journey into the darkness and withdrawing us, then returning us to even darker moments.
It is a journey for the senses - the sights, sounds and smells wrapping themselves around us.
Death's head moths circling overhead foreshadowing difficulties ahead. Smells of overripe fruit and rotting vegetation, the stench of decay.
Deliciously brooding and gothic descriptive phrasing littered throughout.
Words curling into her like fish hooks; tongue is swollen and flaps like an eel; a wail of rage so terrifying it could rip the flesh from a rodent's back; rotting flesh mixed with the acrid stench of sulphur; reaching into the swirling darkness coming from his mouth; not watching the shadows, but looking for the light . . . . (gulp!)
Themes of abandonment and decay throughout: abandoned baby; empty cottages; closed-up schoolroom; crumbling abbey and lopsided gravestones. Abandoned island, people gone, farm animals gone, nothing that is human or living left.
All of these descriptions combined create a sumptuously enchanting, atmospheric setting and an ideal read leading up to Halloween.
Threaded throughout the story there is the underlying theme of metamorphosis - the caterpillars turning into butterflies and moths; Ivy on the verge of adulthood - both telling of the change from youth to maturity. Also changing from someone you think you should be, to becoming the real person who is inside you.
Waking the Witch? It is also about waking your real self.
August 9, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book started off at a super fast pace, it opens with our main protagonist Ivy 17 years old and working in a butterfly farm, Ivy is intuitive but is very closed off to the people around her. She grew up in the social care system and has been looking for her birth mother for a very long time. Finally, she has a lead into her mother’s whereabouts and travels to the remote Bardsey Island off the coast of Wales.
Ivy is soon pulled into a fairy tale of myths and monsters in order to finally understand what and who she really is.
So it’s not very often that you come across a novel that is not only based in England but has very England places and vernacular, I loved the generational references, it felt like I was listening to my own children. The plot is fast-paced and while not a very long book it had so much going on. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, and would definitely recommend it to a younger audience.
This book started off at a super fast pace, it opens with our main protagonist Ivy 17 years old and working in a butterfly farm, Ivy is intuitive but is very closed off to the people around her. She grew up in the social care system and has been looking for her birth mother for a very long time. Finally, she has a lead into her mother’s whereabouts and travels to the remote Bardsey Island off the coast of Wales.
Ivy is soon pulled into a fairy tale of myths and monsters in order to finally understand what and who she really is.
So it’s not very often that you come across a novel that is not only based in England but has very England places and vernacular, I loved the generational references, it felt like I was listening to my own children. The plot is fast-paced and while not a very long book it had so much going on. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, and would definitely recommend it to a younger audience.
July 10, 2022
“I tried to keep you safe, but I see now that I can't. They won't stop until they have you…”
Waking the Witch honestly feels like Rachel Burge reached into my head and found the things I wanted to read. Arthurian legends, witches, feminism? It felt perfect and I really enjoyed it as a result.
I loved the setting in this. It felt unsettling and creepy, in contrast to the reunion with her mum that Ivy has dreamed of for years, and it helped build an uncertainty around everything she is introduced to/discovers.
Maybe I’m used to Arthurian retellings that more often explore the Knights and King Arthur, so I was pleasantly surprised that this explored the women’s side of the story. I really enjoyed their story, and their reason to explore a shared pain - it felt sadly realistic.
After so long without a family, I liked the opportunity Ivy was handed to have one. It wasn’t the one that she (or I) expected, but it worked. I liked that it wasn’t perfect, and that, for so long, she felt like she was trying to squeeze herself into a mould that didn’t quite fit. It felt better that she had to embrace her own identity to make everything work.
You should definitely be checking this out 18th August!
Waking the Witch honestly feels like Rachel Burge reached into my head and found the things I wanted to read. Arthurian legends, witches, feminism? It felt perfect and I really enjoyed it as a result.
I loved the setting in this. It felt unsettling and creepy, in contrast to the reunion with her mum that Ivy has dreamed of for years, and it helped build an uncertainty around everything she is introduced to/discovers.
Maybe I’m used to Arthurian retellings that more often explore the Knights and King Arthur, so I was pleasantly surprised that this explored the women’s side of the story. I really enjoyed their story, and their reason to explore a shared pain - it felt sadly realistic.
After so long without a family, I liked the opportunity Ivy was handed to have one. It wasn’t the one that she (or I) expected, but it worked. I liked that it wasn’t perfect, and that, for so long, she felt like she was trying to squeeze herself into a mould that didn’t quite fit. It felt better that she had to embrace her own identity to make everything work.
You should definitely be checking this out 18th August!
August 25, 2022
This was so much darker and creepier than I was expecting. I am not a frequent YA reader so these elements took me by surprise.
The story follows a young woman named Ivy who at the start of the book is working at a butterfly centre, a place she loves. After some dramatic events she ends up leaving that job and going to find her estranged mother on Bardsey Island, a remote, deserted place in Wales, rich in history and folklore. Ivy wants to get to the bottom of the sinister shadows that have been haunting her and possessing people around her and believes her mother and the island hold the answers. She brings her former colleague and friend Tom along for the ride.
The pacing of this book was really good and kept me hooked. The blending of the folklore elements with the gothic thriller parts of the story were done brilliantly and it was clear that the plotting had been very well thought-out.
I liked Ivy as a character and her growth as the story progressed. I thought her affiliation with the butterflies from the start of the story was going to have more significance later on but sadly not. Her friendship with Tom was sweet and a welcome light relief in the story at times.
Some of the more magical/fantasy elements won't appeal to everyone but if you like a dose of that in stories inspired by folklore then I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Readers First for the copy of this book.
The story follows a young woman named Ivy who at the start of the book is working at a butterfly centre, a place she loves. After some dramatic events she ends up leaving that job and going to find her estranged mother on Bardsey Island, a remote, deserted place in Wales, rich in history and folklore. Ivy wants to get to the bottom of the sinister shadows that have been haunting her and possessing people around her and believes her mother and the island hold the answers. She brings her former colleague and friend Tom along for the ride.
The pacing of this book was really good and kept me hooked. The blending of the folklore elements with the gothic thriller parts of the story were done brilliantly and it was clear that the plotting had been very well thought-out.
I liked Ivy as a character and her growth as the story progressed. I thought her affiliation with the butterflies from the start of the story was going to have more significance later on but sadly not. Her friendship with Tom was sweet and a welcome light relief in the story at times.
Some of the more magical/fantasy elements won't appeal to everyone but if you like a dose of that in stories inspired by folklore then I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Readers First for the copy of this book.
July 11, 2022
I've read several of Rachel's books and they never dissapoint. Her writing, and telling of the story is captivating, drawing you in from the very first page.
The world building is perfect and you can visualise yourself within those settings as you read.
Characters are very well developed and it made a welcome change seeing Arthurian myth from females' perspective.
A fabulous story of self discovery and finding your true self.
Overall I found Waking the Witch a highly enjoyable and engaging read which had me addicted from beginning to end.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The world building is perfect and you can visualise yourself within those settings as you read.
Characters are very well developed and it made a welcome change seeing Arthurian myth from females' perspective.
A fabulous story of self discovery and finding your true self.
Overall I found Waking the Witch a highly enjoyable and engaging read which had me addicted from beginning to end.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 16, 2022
Content Warnings
This is aimed at Young Adults, so not too heavy. Some mild violence. Child abandonment, isolation, and the foster system, plus the resulting associated traumas, but not too heavy, fine for YA readers.
Welcome back for today’s book review! Today I’m reviewing Waking the Witch by Rachel Burge, which is a wonderfully spooky feminist take on Arthurian legend - which I was always fascinated by as a kid, and even now, my favourite book series (definitely NOT a YA series) by Steve McHugh is an urban fantasy twist on Arthurian myth, so nothing has changed.
Here’s the blurb…
‘"I tried to keep you safe, but I see now that I can't. They won't stop until they have you."
When Ivy's search for her mother draws her to a remote Welsh isle, she uncovers a dark secret about her past. An ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy, and her only chance of survival is to look deep within herself. For not every story in legend is true, and some evils are not what they seem. A darkly spellbinding tale of female empowerment, steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend.’
Ivy is a teenager who is juggling a job she loves, the terrible boss that goes with that job, and her search for the mother who abandoned her as a baby. When she’s attacked by a strange man while at work, on the day that she finally finds her mum, she finds herself without a job and running from the shadows her mother warned her about with her co-worker Tom. Ivy takes Tom up on a lift, and decides to take the train to Wales to finally see her mother. Thanks to a few mishaps, her train idea goes out of the window, and Tom offers to drive her to the coast of Wales so that she can take the ferry over to the island where her mum lives. After arriving on the small, desolate island they’re pulled into a battle neither of them are ready for.
This is a tale of magic, corruption, sisterhood, relationships and wonder, steeped in Welsh and Arthurian myth, and it’s one not to miss. There is a thread of feminism running throughout which I loved, and I loved how Burge called out every day sexism in a way that young adults can engage with. I hope it helps young people stand against discrimination, and become the generation that really starts to change the world. I also hope that their feminism is intersectional, and probably best if I leave it at that or it’ll be a rant!
The world that Rachel Burge has created is vivid to me, it immediately became a picture in my mind, totally alive and increasingly atmospheric and eerie. I loved being taken back to the wilds of Wales, as it’s been decades since I visited when camping as a child - it was usually Scotland but sometimes we branched out! I’ve always loved any place where myth, legends and the old ways still thrive, likely due to being a Pagan from my teens, they feel like home to me. This book created that feeling for me, so I have to say I’m impressed with the quality of the world building!
The characters were also expertly crafted. Ivy’s isolation and obvious trauma, from a life lived in the foster system after being abandoned by her mother, informed her every move. Every relationship and decision she made, and more importantly how she looked at those relationships, and made those decisions, which was a lovely touch as it enabled the audience to look at Ivy with more empathy. I’m sometimes guilty of losing patience with characters for making poor decisions, even if I know what has informed said decisions, but I didn’t experience that with Ivy. I felt so sad for her when she described her childhood, and the loss of someone close to her. Her story was at times heart wrenching and at others uplifting, I mean this girl was smart and self sufficient, and had her shiiiit together more than I do now at 42 in a lot of ways. At first, I wanted to throttle Tom. His lack of punctuality caused most of Ivy’s problems at the start of the book, so giving her a lift to the station was the least he could do, the inconsiderate so and so! Yet, of course, he has his issues, that he covers as well as Ivy covers hers, so I warmed to him pretty quickly! I won’t mention any other characters from later in the story, as I don’t want to spoil the story, but there are some very intriguing ones to come!
I’d definitely recommend picking this book up, especially if you’re a budding feminist, or have one in the family! I felt it raised the questions in a way that would be accessible to all, and it didn’t speak down to it’s readers. Rachel Burge seems to have a deft hand, and I look forward to more in the future. A spooky ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from this old(ish) witch!
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me a PR copy.
linktr.ee/merlinscove
This is aimed at Young Adults, so not too heavy. Some mild violence. Child abandonment, isolation, and the foster system, plus the resulting associated traumas, but not too heavy, fine for YA readers.
Welcome back for today’s book review! Today I’m reviewing Waking the Witch by Rachel Burge, which is a wonderfully spooky feminist take on Arthurian legend - which I was always fascinated by as a kid, and even now, my favourite book series (definitely NOT a YA series) by Steve McHugh is an urban fantasy twist on Arthurian myth, so nothing has changed.
Here’s the blurb…
‘"I tried to keep you safe, but I see now that I can't. They won't stop until they have you."
When Ivy's search for her mother draws her to a remote Welsh isle, she uncovers a dark secret about her past. An ancient and corrupt power is stalking Ivy, and her only chance of survival is to look deep within herself. For not every story in legend is true, and some evils are not what they seem. A darkly spellbinding tale of female empowerment, steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend.’
Ivy is a teenager who is juggling a job she loves, the terrible boss that goes with that job, and her search for the mother who abandoned her as a baby. When she’s attacked by a strange man while at work, on the day that she finally finds her mum, she finds herself without a job and running from the shadows her mother warned her about with her co-worker Tom. Ivy takes Tom up on a lift, and decides to take the train to Wales to finally see her mother. Thanks to a few mishaps, her train idea goes out of the window, and Tom offers to drive her to the coast of Wales so that she can take the ferry over to the island where her mum lives. After arriving on the small, desolate island they’re pulled into a battle neither of them are ready for.
This is a tale of magic, corruption, sisterhood, relationships and wonder, steeped in Welsh and Arthurian myth, and it’s one not to miss. There is a thread of feminism running throughout which I loved, and I loved how Burge called out every day sexism in a way that young adults can engage with. I hope it helps young people stand against discrimination, and become the generation that really starts to change the world. I also hope that their feminism is intersectional, and probably best if I leave it at that or it’ll be a rant!
The world that Rachel Burge has created is vivid to me, it immediately became a picture in my mind, totally alive and increasingly atmospheric and eerie. I loved being taken back to the wilds of Wales, as it’s been decades since I visited when camping as a child - it was usually Scotland but sometimes we branched out! I’ve always loved any place where myth, legends and the old ways still thrive, likely due to being a Pagan from my teens, they feel like home to me. This book created that feeling for me, so I have to say I’m impressed with the quality of the world building!
The characters were also expertly crafted. Ivy’s isolation and obvious trauma, from a life lived in the foster system after being abandoned by her mother, informed her every move. Every relationship and decision she made, and more importantly how she looked at those relationships, and made those decisions, which was a lovely touch as it enabled the audience to look at Ivy with more empathy. I’m sometimes guilty of losing patience with characters for making poor decisions, even if I know what has informed said decisions, but I didn’t experience that with Ivy. I felt so sad for her when she described her childhood, and the loss of someone close to her. Her story was at times heart wrenching and at others uplifting, I mean this girl was smart and self sufficient, and had her shiiiit together more than I do now at 42 in a lot of ways. At first, I wanted to throttle Tom. His lack of punctuality caused most of Ivy’s problems at the start of the book, so giving her a lift to the station was the least he could do, the inconsiderate so and so! Yet, of course, he has his issues, that he covers as well as Ivy covers hers, so I warmed to him pretty quickly! I won’t mention any other characters from later in the story, as I don’t want to spoil the story, but there are some very intriguing ones to come!
I’d definitely recommend picking this book up, especially if you’re a budding feminist, or have one in the family! I felt it raised the questions in a way that would be accessible to all, and it didn’t speak down to it’s readers. Rachel Burge seems to have a deft hand, and I look forward to more in the future. A spooky ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from this old(ish) witch!
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me a PR copy.
linktr.ee/merlinscove
August 4, 2022
This book had me intrigued as soon as I saw the cover! This is my first book by this author & I loved it. Its magical and mysterious and includes welsh mythology that I found fascinating. I loved the darkness and eerie feel as I was reading. Usually stuff like that creeps me out, (which is why I avoid horror books) but it somehow kept me glued to the pages. Tom was my favourite character, he was just such a sweetheart right from the start! Im really hoping there's a book 2 because I need to know what happens next!!
May 22, 2022
I was hooked from the very first chapter, there was always something there keeping me engaged.
Walking the witch had lots of themes and deeper meanings throughout . Not only are friends and family important but you can also kick ass on your own . That it’s good to not bottle things up, it’s a great way to bond and share with others whilst letting them know they can do the same with you .
The relationship between Ivy and her coworker Tom feels so real and builds beautifully . It never felt rushed or forced, just developed naturally.
Our main character Ivy works at a butterfly house and the life process of a butterfly is hugely important as a metaphor for Ivy which I really enjoyed coming to grips with .
The world building/setting was done so well and definitely made you feel engrossed in that environment.
I was slightly disappointed with the ending but only because I was hoping for more . I didn’t want the story to end where it did !
Overall a brilliant book about a young woman learning her true self with some spooky and fun magic thrown in .
Walking the witch had lots of themes and deeper meanings throughout . Not only are friends and family important but you can also kick ass on your own . That it’s good to not bottle things up, it’s a great way to bond and share with others whilst letting them know they can do the same with you .
The relationship between Ivy and her coworker Tom feels so real and builds beautifully . It never felt rushed or forced, just developed naturally.
Our main character Ivy works at a butterfly house and the life process of a butterfly is hugely important as a metaphor for Ivy which I really enjoyed coming to grips with .
The world building/setting was done so well and definitely made you feel engrossed in that environment.
I was slightly disappointed with the ending but only because I was hoping for more . I didn’t want the story to end where it did !
Overall a brilliant book about a young woman learning her true self with some spooky and fun magic thrown in .
August 17, 2022
Ivy has grown up in foster care and has learned to rely on herself for everything, but one day she finally gets a lead on the identity of the woman who abandoned her as a child—the address of a lighthouse on a remote Welsh island. But as Ivy searches for the truth about why her mother abandoned her, strange things begin to happen. In order to solve the mystery, Ivy must figure out who she really is and how to release her own power.
This is a an utterly compelling, darkly atmospheric novel that swept me away from the first page. I loved the juxtaposition of Ivy’s contemporary story with the ancient Arthurian myths and the witchy allure of the lighthouse itself. An empowering and refreshing feminist lens on a classic tale. Brilliantly done.
This is a an utterly compelling, darkly atmospheric novel that swept me away from the first page. I loved the juxtaposition of Ivy’s contemporary story with the ancient Arthurian myths and the witchy allure of the lighthouse itself. An empowering and refreshing feminist lens on a classic tale. Brilliantly done.
April 15, 2024
TW: gore, violence, blood, homelessness, misogyny, sexism, absent family
Great concept, poor execution. Marketed as YA, yet the writing style and characters felt very juvenile. I'd put this in the hands of readers under the age of 12 rather than over, despite the gore and mild violence.
The story follows Ivy, a girl raised in foster care and her search for her biological mother.
It's disappointing to see the 'I'm not like other girls' trope STILL being used in 2022: "I want to tell him I didn't learn martial arts the way that some girls take up yoga or gymnastics" like really? As a character growing up in the care system we could have had real insight into an alternative childhood and why Ivy felt prompted to pick up martial arts. Instead we get a quick 'kids go through too much in care' paired with 'oh but my current foster parents are really nice though, and I've always had allowances from every foster family I've been with'. Being chucked straight into the action is normally a good thing, but this history deserved more representation than it was given, both at the beginning and within the awkward flashbacks throughout the novel. Not to mention in the paragraph before we have a "that's what you get for putting your faith in people: disappointment". It's just very cliche and overdone, especially when tied in with the Tracy Beaker-esque backstory. [Edit: a reviewer who has experienced the care system commented below that this part of the storyline is accurate to their own experiences which I am happy to hear and will reserve further judgement on scenarios I know little about]
The other issues I had with this book were the plot holes and the writing. At the beginning of the book, Ivy works in a butterfly centre. I've not read a book featuring a butterfly centre! Nice! There is so much talk about butterflies at the start of this novel I thought this would be a recurring theme, which would've been great had it been executed. During her shift, 3 butterflies start flying around her head in an abnormal pattern. That's weird, and foreboding, and ominous, and all the other things a plot device like this is used for. And then they're never brought up again, save for a caterpillar reference towards the end of the book. Instead we then focus on cormorants, big birds that are actually women!
What's sad about this book too is that with a bit more time and length, it could be a really good book. We're rushed from scene to scene with no time for the character to stop and think. There's not enough character development to find Ivy relatable, nor is there enough dialogue and interaction between the other characters to make them stand out. Most revelations or truths are revealed through 1. info-dumping 2. reading it in a book and 3. memories-that-aren't-quite-her-memories. It means that every 'shock' falls a little flat and the story becomes less and less believable as it continues. Given the speed of the plot, I should've expected the ending to be the same. I was still confused as to why it was cut so short, unless a sequel has been planned.
Now, the writing: it was just so clunky and underdeveloped. Within the span of a couple of pages (and perhaps more, this is only when I started noticing) we have:
"Somehow I know it's done"
"Somehow I know they won't hurt him"
"Somehow I'm not afraid"
"Something tells me that she can heal him"
"Something deep in my gut tells me I can trust her"
"There's something unnerving about the way their bare feet step effortlessly"
"Somehow I know that I once had a special relationship with her"
"Something is happening"
That last one really takes the cake. Yeah, something is happening, it's me losing my will to live. Why hasn't an editor gone through this and tightened it up? It makes for poor storytelling, when we're getting nothing other than the character feeling "something"- I NEED MORE! I know this is an arc, but I'm doubtful how many more revisions it will have before publishing. More show, less tell, please.
There's more I could and want to say, but I've actually run out of steam writing this review. As a disclaimer, two of my favourite books are in the YA genre, so the genre or intended reading age is not the problem here. It's the plot holes, fast pace and lack of characterisation!
Thank you to Netgalley for this free arc in exchange for an honest review.
Great concept, poor execution. Marketed as YA, yet the writing style and characters felt very juvenile. I'd put this in the hands of readers under the age of 12 rather than over, despite the gore and mild violence.
The story follows Ivy, a girl raised in foster care and her search for her biological mother.
It's disappointing to see the 'I'm not like other girls' trope STILL being used in 2022: "I want to tell him I didn't learn martial arts the way that some girls take up yoga or gymnastics" like really? As a character growing up in the care system we could have had real insight into an alternative childhood and why Ivy felt prompted to pick up martial arts. Instead we get a quick 'kids go through too much in care' paired with 'oh but my current foster parents are really nice though, and I've always had allowances from every foster family I've been with'. Being chucked straight into the action is normally a good thing, but this history deserved more representation than it was given, both at the beginning and within the awkward flashbacks throughout the novel. Not to mention in the paragraph before we have a "that's what you get for putting your faith in people: disappointment". It's just very cliche and overdone, especially when tied in with the Tracy Beaker-esque backstory. [Edit: a reviewer who has experienced the care system commented below that this part of the storyline is accurate to their own experiences which I am happy to hear and will reserve further judgement on scenarios I know little about]
The other issues I had with this book were the plot holes and the writing. At the beginning of the book, Ivy works in a butterfly centre. I've not read a book featuring a butterfly centre! Nice! There is so much talk about butterflies at the start of this novel I thought this would be a recurring theme, which would've been great had it been executed. During her shift, 3 butterflies start flying around her head in an abnormal pattern. That's weird, and foreboding, and ominous, and all the other things a plot device like this is used for. And then they're never brought up again, save for a caterpillar reference towards the end of the book. Instead we then focus on cormorants, big birds that are actually women!
What's sad about this book too is that with a bit more time and length, it could be a really good book. We're rushed from scene to scene with no time for the character to stop and think. There's not enough character development to find Ivy relatable, nor is there enough dialogue and interaction between the other characters to make them stand out. Most revelations or truths are revealed through 1. info-dumping 2. reading it in a book and 3. memories-that-aren't-quite-her-memories. It means that every 'shock' falls a little flat and the story becomes less and less believable as it continues. Given the speed of the plot, I should've expected the ending to be the same. I was still confused as to why it was cut so short, unless a sequel has been planned.
Now, the writing: it was just so clunky and underdeveloped. Within the span of a couple of pages (and perhaps more, this is only when I started noticing) we have:
"Somehow I know it's done"
"Somehow I know they won't hurt him"
"Somehow I'm not afraid"
"Something tells me that she can heal him"
"Something deep in my gut tells me I can trust her"
"There's something unnerving about the way their bare feet step effortlessly"
"Somehow I know that I once had a special relationship with her"
"Something is happening"
That last one really takes the cake. Yeah, something is happening, it's me losing my will to live. Why hasn't an editor gone through this and tightened it up? It makes for poor storytelling, when we're getting nothing other than the character feeling "something"- I NEED MORE! I know this is an arc, but I'm doubtful how many more revisions it will have before publishing. More show, less tell, please.
There's more I could and want to say, but I've actually run out of steam writing this review. As a disclaimer, two of my favourite books are in the YA genre, so the genre or intended reading age is not the problem here. It's the plot holes, fast pace and lack of characterisation!
Thank you to Netgalley for this free arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2022
Waking the Witch was far different from anything I could’ve expected. Its premise was unique and it had an eerie feel all the way through. It was so hard to predict what would happen next.
It was very easy to become frustrated with Ivy and the decisions she made until you sit back and realise she is only 17. I wish she’d have been more open with Tom though, he was so good to her!
I particularly enjoyed the sisterhood within the book. It was nice to see how it all fitted together! This will be a great spooky season read.
It was very easy to become frustrated with Ivy and the decisions she made until you sit back and realise she is only 17. I wish she’d have been more open with Tom though, he was so good to her!
I particularly enjoyed the sisterhood within the book. It was nice to see how it all fitted together! This will be a great spooky season read.
August 26, 2022
It was a lot of fun reading and discussing this one! I am a sucker for mythology and legend so the fact that this dives into Arthurian legend just got my nerd senses tingling!
Let’s get stuck in:
⭐️ The myth, the magic, the depiction of Arthurian figures being told in a different light under the female lense rather than the male one that has guided these stories for so long.
⭐️ The location of Bardsey tying in so well to the story - can’t say anything more!
⭐️ Our main characters! I had such a soft spot for Tom, a particular scene in a kitchen had me laughing out loud. I appreciated the insight into Ivy’s emotions regarding the search for her mother and her identity
⭐️ The butterflies! 🦋
⭐️ I mentioned the depiction of Arthurian legends, but also the depiction of witches was brilliant.
⭐️The themes around sisterhood, found family and identity are all explored in an accessible way.
⭐️ Whilst this is perhaps ‘younger’ than I would usually read I found it enjoyable and know that my teen self would also have loved it!
⭐️ The ending does leave it open slightly, and I do hope that we’ll see a sequel, but if not the ending has allowed me ponder on how our characters do in the future.
This was a great book to read whilst the weather was becoming a bit more autumnal
Let’s get stuck in:
⭐️ The myth, the magic, the depiction of Arthurian figures being told in a different light under the female lense rather than the male one that has guided these stories for so long.
⭐️ The location of Bardsey tying in so well to the story - can’t say anything more!
⭐️ Our main characters! I had such a soft spot for Tom, a particular scene in a kitchen had me laughing out loud. I appreciated the insight into Ivy’s emotions regarding the search for her mother and her identity
⭐️ The butterflies! 🦋
⭐️ I mentioned the depiction of Arthurian legends, but also the depiction of witches was brilliant.
⭐️The themes around sisterhood, found family and identity are all explored in an accessible way.
⭐️ Whilst this is perhaps ‘younger’ than I would usually read I found it enjoyable and know that my teen self would also have loved it!
⭐️ The ending does leave it open slightly, and I do hope that we’ll see a sequel, but if not the ending has allowed me ponder on how our characters do in the future.
This was a great book to read whilst the weather was becoming a bit more autumnal
August 8, 2022
*Thank you to Hot Key Books for sending me a copy of this book to review!*
If you’re looking for a short little fantasy standalone to sink your teeth into, this might be ideal for your next read. If you don’t want overly convoluted plot lines or pages and pages of worldbuilding and description just the bare bones to get you through, this one will be perfect for you.
Unfortunately for me, I found this book lacking because of its length and the style of narrative it employed. For some reason, I just wasn't connecting with the writing style at all. It felt so basic to me. There was no real effort put into the storytelling to make it seem more vivid or convincing, it just felt like the author had a thought and jotted it down as plainly as possible. I know a lot of people don’t mind this kind of writing, but for me (especially in a fantasy story) it felt so lacklustre. It took all of the emotion and whimsical nature out of everything. It also had more than a handful of pop culture references and teen slang which didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the story very well.
There was no backstory or build up to this story, we sort of dive right into the meat of the fantasy from the real world quite quickly. If you don’t care too much about worldbuilding this may not bother you, but for me this felt almost lazy. I was confused as to why nothing was getting explained to us properly and why our human protagonists were so calm in the face of the supernatural so suddenly. It didn;t bother me too much, but it just dind;t feel natural at all and I couldn't understand the world, the history, the reasoning behind what was happening, or the characters' reactions to it. It was all rather bizarre. But maybe that was the point.
For what it’s worth, this story was extremely fast paced and with its short length, if you’re looking for something to quickly power through you’ll fly through this. It was quite gruesome and dark in nature which I wasn’t initially expecting, but if you want something that doesn’t shy away from gritty and disgusting details you’ll enjoy the meat of this. I enjoyed the story mostly by the time we got to around the 65% mark, but the beginning and especially the ending fell flat to me. The ending especially felt far too easy and everything was resolved a little too easily. I was confused as to what the point of putting obstacles in the way of characters was if they don’t actually hold them up. I don’t know.
Speaking of characters, there was so much potential for them to be interesting yet they came across as ridiculously boring. Most of the backstory and personality was built up by telling rather than showing, and the eventual romance plotline built on this foundation was so predictable and unsatisfying. They had such interesting lives and could have made for a way more powerful dup, it was a bit of a miss!
I still overall felt pretty positive about this book, but it definitely landed in the realm of ‘okay’ for me. It wasn’t bad, just underwhelming.
If you’re looking for a short little fantasy standalone to sink your teeth into, this might be ideal for your next read. If you don’t want overly convoluted plot lines or pages and pages of worldbuilding and description just the bare bones to get you through, this one will be perfect for you.
Unfortunately for me, I found this book lacking because of its length and the style of narrative it employed. For some reason, I just wasn't connecting with the writing style at all. It felt so basic to me. There was no real effort put into the storytelling to make it seem more vivid or convincing, it just felt like the author had a thought and jotted it down as plainly as possible. I know a lot of people don’t mind this kind of writing, but for me (especially in a fantasy story) it felt so lacklustre. It took all of the emotion and whimsical nature out of everything. It also had more than a handful of pop culture references and teen slang which didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the story very well.
There was no backstory or build up to this story, we sort of dive right into the meat of the fantasy from the real world quite quickly. If you don’t care too much about worldbuilding this may not bother you, but for me this felt almost lazy. I was confused as to why nothing was getting explained to us properly and why our human protagonists were so calm in the face of the supernatural so suddenly. It didn;t bother me too much, but it just dind;t feel natural at all and I couldn't understand the world, the history, the reasoning behind what was happening, or the characters' reactions to it. It was all rather bizarre. But maybe that was the point.
For what it’s worth, this story was extremely fast paced and with its short length, if you’re looking for something to quickly power through you’ll fly through this. It was quite gruesome and dark in nature which I wasn’t initially expecting, but if you want something that doesn’t shy away from gritty and disgusting details you’ll enjoy the meat of this. I enjoyed the story mostly by the time we got to around the 65% mark, but the beginning and especially the ending fell flat to me. The ending especially felt far too easy and everything was resolved a little too easily. I was confused as to what the point of putting obstacles in the way of characters was if they don’t actually hold them up. I don’t know.
Speaking of characters, there was so much potential for them to be interesting yet they came across as ridiculously boring. Most of the backstory and personality was built up by telling rather than showing, and the eventual romance plotline built on this foundation was so predictable and unsatisfying. They had such interesting lives and could have made for a way more powerful dup, it was a bit of a miss!
I still overall felt pretty positive about this book, but it definitely landed in the realm of ‘okay’ for me. It wasn’t bad, just underwhelming.
August 7, 2022
Please can we have the next in the series now please, I really don't want to wait to see what happens. I read this with the older children and they both enjoyed it immensely ,as did I. An exciting and heartening tale of a young woman finding out who she really is ,and WOW the punchline is worth waiting for.
August 18, 2022
WOW! This book was amazing. I loved everything about it. Ivy was so feisty and relatable and I was rooting for her all the way. The banter between her and Tom made me laugh more than once, despite the scary things happening, and I love how their relationship developed so naturally. The writing is incredibly atmospheric and the plot was so gripping I didn't want to put the book down. The use of Arthurian legend and Welsh myth was really clever and made the story even more special. I hope there's a sequel!
(I received this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
(I received this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
August 6, 2022
I LOVED this book! Ivy was fantastically feisty and her relationship with Tom was brilliantly done. I was so invested in them as a couple and their funny banter felt realistic and really added to the book. The story itself was amazing - gripping from the first page and the witches were wonderfully creepy and strange. I loved how Ivy found a family, and the sense of sisterhood was so strong and very moving in places. I hope there's a book 2!
August 18, 2022
This darkly supernatural novel was unputdownable, sublime pacing, a chillingly atmospheric setting, a flawed and feisty protagonist and the promise of danger sprinkled throughout like breadcrumbs. The anticipation and foreboding that I felt from the start was perfectly executed and the ending is poised for a sequel or your imagination!
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