The atmosphere of this story wrapped me in a comforting embrace. I love all things witch and so the darkness of the embrace was perfect. It had a superb blend of details, plot, and character that made it flow with a pace perfect for the creeping dread effect. It's one of those books you want to save for a weekend forecast with thunderstorms and gloom as that will match the landscape you're taken to.

The bond I developed with Elodie made everything happening tense even during the parts with a more relaxed tempo. Aleida really spoke to me. In fact, both of these women are strong in their own ways and refreshing female leads. The magic of this world was creative and had a genuine feel making the fantasy parts of the story feel just as real as everything else. I was utterly captivated from start to finish.

And that ending! Didn't see that coming. I love when that happens.

Love it! This is witches done right.

I tried to push past this, I really did, but the dialog killed me. I just don't think I was the target audience at all for this book. It sounded interesting and I love all things monster and witchy, but I couldn't handle the characters or the dialog. It was all just too simple for me, I tried to keep reading it, but I gave up. Definitely not for me.

Great storyline - the dialogue KILLED me. Not a fan of the simple speak everyone had. Also none of the characters are particularly like able... but I powered through. Really, the story was good, and I enjoyed the book overall.

This is unique, hooking, fast pacing, folklore dances with feminist vibes kind of entertaining fantasy with powerful, likable heroines and detailed, outstanding world building. Finally I found a great beginning of new installments: a fresh, breath taking, moving fantasy series.

Glyssha Blackbone, cutthroat bitch is finally dead but the monsters she’d created are out there, moving around, threatening the peace of woods.

Aleida left behind, scared of warlock threatening her to pay the debt she owes and the monstrous tree lurking in the orchard is another ominous sign that she cannot lose any second: things are about to get worse and she needs urgent help.

Her path crosses with Elodie, our main character, living isolated life at a ramshackle homestead, still grieving with the loss of her father, mentally and verbally abused by her stepfather, neglected by her own mother. But when a job opportunity appears out of nowhere by a strange correspondence which forces her team up with a farmer, the farmer’s daughter and a magician to start a journey headed to Black Oak Cottage close to Lilsfield community, she sees this as an escape route from her miserable life.

Of course she has no idea what kind of dangerous and important task waiting for her and she has no idea she will work for a witch and team up with strick, harsh mistress Aleida.

Overall: I enjoyed the world building and competitiveness of Aleida and Eloide who seemed like opposite characters but they are both manipulated by harmful characters throughout their lives who prevent them see their own powers and strengths. This fact brings two characters closer and creates a loyal bounding.

Lack of romantic elements fit well with this story. In my opinion sometimes unnecessary romantic involvements affect the pace and credibility of the story.

I’m giving my four solid stars and I’m looking forward to read upcoming journeys of Aleida and Eloide.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers/ Voyager-AU for sharing this unique ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. I was not sold on this book. It was so slow. The characters lacked any depth. The only thing that remotely kept it going was the mystery of what was going on and what had happened. I didn’t connect with anything and had to dnf at 53%. I feel like even if I pushed through and finished, I wouldn’t rate it higher 3 stars due to all the problems mentioned. Even if it ended up getting better. If you like The Near Witch, this book may be up your alley.