Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a free Ebook in exchange for an honest review!

This is the best book I've read in a very long time!

Point one: Great characters! Iraya is a badass for the ages, and I adored Jazmyne, too! Point two: Wonderful worldbuilding! Never in my life have I come across a Jamaican-inspired fantasy! Point three: A fabulous magic system! Family trees and inheritance and conduit metals! It's so unique!

I literally cannot find anything I don't like about this book!

I give Witches Steeped in Gold five stars out of five!

This book was so tough to get through. While I love the characters and the story... there is so much detail that it makes it so hard to get through. While I had trouble making it through the book as quickly as I normally read, I do recommend you give it a chance because it is a wonderful story with vibrant characters.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IN THE WORLD! FANTASTIC, MAGICAL, GOLDEN, TRY IT AND ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the story of two witches on opposite sides of a fight over the throne of a Jamaica-inspired island, both arguably the rightful heirs to the kingdom, who come together for the purpose of overthrowing the current ruler - who happens to be the mother of one of them. Overall, the premise and atmosphere were exciting and full of potential, but the actual execution left a lot of things unclear as the plot unfolded.

The thing that stands out most here is the magic system. It is clearly inspired by the Jamaican mythos, but the reliance of all magic-users on gold was a really interesting device. The inclusion of deep patwah/patois as the language used in great magical workings was excellent, and overall although I can't say I have a comprehensive understanding of the magic system, neither do the two point of view characters so we're all on even footing.

With the twists and turns the plot took, however, there was very little (if any) foreshadowing which made them seem almost entirely random. It seemed to be gearing up to some really interesting character developments, until the introduction of a story about ancient artifacts at which point the story kind of turned into something of a Horcrux search, and almost entirely abandoned the rebellion plot line, only to return to it so quickly that I got mental whiplash. The narrators weren't unreliable, but it almost seemed that way because plot developments popped out of nowhere with increasing frequency as the book went on.

Although this would have been a 5* read for me, the lack of clarity behind a lot of the plot elements - to the point where some of them seemed very deus ex machina - knocked it down to 4*. This is not a quick read, but for fantasy lovers who are looking for something to shake up their day I think this is going to be a hit.

Wow! That was intense. I have to be honest, I was very confused in the beginning. There are a lot of characters and magic to remember. The world building is great though, I definitely wanted more. This book is rich and a very slow burn. The author took time writing this gem.

I loved it, love the characters, love the world and absolutely NEED the physical book! I don't know how I am going to wait for book 2!!!!

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for letting me read this book in an exchange for an honest review.

While the world building is excellent and complex, pacing is a serious problem in this work. The first half of the novel is painfully slow and most of the action driving events occur "off stage" so speak, resulting in hundreds of pages of the two protagonists reacting rather than doing (and those reactions are largely wishing they or their lives were different, that they were older, that past traumas hadn't occurred, etc.). The pace radically increases in the second half, which is refreshing, but ultimately the increase in pacing has minimal payoff as the sudden rush towards the end results in an abrupt cliffhanger. In some ways the reader is left feeling like they just read a 500+ page background or grounding preface, rather than a novel/story in its own right. The second volume, when it comes, will hopefully result in more meaningful action that will move the plot forward. Fans of Laurie Forest's The Black Witch Chronicles should give it a try.

Overall I thought this was a very interesting story. I appreciated the world building and the character portrayals. The relationships between characters were intense, and overall this was a dark and interesting book. Unfortunately for me, the pacing was too slow and I had trouble getting into the flow of the story. I think people who like more slow-burn fantasy will greatly enjoy this book.

There are times when we must step into our own skin. There are times when our lives are planned for us. This tale is of two young women, both fighting to live. Both working towards a destiny that can free them or their people. The book is magical, both light and dark. There is patois or patwah speech, twists and unexpected turns. It is the first in a remarkable series. I expect great things from this author.

A fantastic and thrilling book with a stunning setting and unforgettable characters. I truly look forward to what Ciannon Smart writes next.

If HBO wants to do another Game of Thrones style TV show, this would be the perfect one to pick up! Filled with rich world building and complicated characters, this book will satisfy any lover of high fantasy; do not let the YA rating scare you! I am not quiet about the fact that I quit high fantasy years ago, because I was bored of reading books written by white men and basing their worlds off of Western Europe/England. It was the same thing over and over again. I am so happy that more diverse fantasy is being published and people are excited about it! This book is one that people will love and want more from this world, especially after that last line!

Jazmyn and Iraya have known nothing but hate for each other because of where they both come from. Jazmyn’s mother is responsible for the death of Iraya’s parents and the imprisonment of her people and the subjugation of so many people across their land. However, change is coming and if they can work together then their island may have a chance for change and magic can be restored to its rightful owners. I liked this book but it is very confusing for at least the first half. There are a lot of characters and places and history and I had a challenging time keeping it all straight!

I wasn't sure I would like this book but I decided to give it a chance. I am so happy I did because it was so good!! I read it in a day it was so good. The plotline was so exciting and I could not wait to find out what happens next. I will be purchasing this book for my library's YA collection because I know the teens will love this book.