This book is so authentic and magical and gripping! I was lucky and got to read an early version. I read it over the course of a couple of days and couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened to Katrell and Conrad and Will.

If you're looking for something that's full of black girl magic and unapologetic realism at the same time, then you've definitely found it. This book's got a fresh take on zombies, a dog that I would die for, a powerful friendship, and a main character I never stopped rooting for.

The author really captures the tough life that kids face in our world and weaves it seamlessly with some witchy magic, hair-raising ghosts, and a girl who will do anything to escape her life. Katrell is faced with tougher and tougher choices as she begins to use her magic as a way to get out of her toxic home life. The odds are stacked against her but Katrell won't let anything stop her. Things get messy of course and more than just zombies end up complicating Katrell's life as the story races to the emotional climax. It's such a powerful story that is SO SO SO good! I can't wait for the book to come out so I can read it again!!!

Katrell has hit the jackpot when she discovered she can earn thousands of dollars by composing a short sentence... to bring the dead back for their loved ones. Her home life was miserable, naturally, she had to take care of herself. The description of her mother is well-versed and mirrors those kids’ self-centered parents. The author wrote in her blood to share her feelings, memories, and stories. For those young kids who live in this type of environment, this book shall help them into realizing that they do not have to do everything themselves. Seek help, which is the hardest step to take. The love is raw and real in this tale.

3.5 stars

The concept of this novel is spectacular, and there is a lot to like here overall.

Trell, the m.c., is 16, has a terrible home life, and has...witch powers! When readers meet Trell, she demonstrates her current power: writing letters to the dead so that they can appear (life size!) and chat with their loved ones for a few minutes. Around the ten-minute mark, Trell gets a splitting headache that ends the session, and the folks from the other side return to their world. Things get strange - relatively - when Trell receives a sinister warning from one of these ghosts. Despite the warning, she keeps on keeping on, and before we all know it, she is resurrecting these folks for much longer than 10 minutes! To say the least, it is exciting to see how this will all pan out, especially in the face of Trell's persistently difficult home life and constant socioeconomic struggles.

Lewis creates an unwavering sense of authoritative neglect, isolation, and inappropriate responsibility for a child. Trell's relationship with her mother is heartbreaking because it is so realistic, and Lewis draws readers right in to that manipulative, codependent trap. It is painful to read about Trell's experiences, but that is a testament to Lewis's skill in this area.

While I love so much about this work, there is a significant amount of repetition happening. For being so resourceful, Trell is s-l-o-w on the uptake in some areas: molasses. I want to make a drinking game out of the number of times she argues that ____ is not different than before! News flash, Trell... Yes, this highlights her denial and the power of external manipulators, but the repetition was just over the top at times.

Overall, I truly enjoyed the concept and skill Lewis demonstrates here, and my main issues are really with the editing. I will be dying to come back (see what I did there...?) and read much more from Lewis.

HOLY MOLY, this was good! It was very dark, so if you don’t like dark stuff I don’t suggest reading this. Otherwise, this was amazing! I can’t wait to read more from Jessica Lewis!

What a crazy dark story! I read the author's letter at the beginning, and I could see all of her experiences shining through the story. Trell's character was full of so many contradictions, and Lewis carefully lead the reader through her thoughts and emotions during an incredibly difficult time. Although I morally knew that bringing people back to life was most likely going to blow up in her face, I completely understood Trell's actions, and this was down to Lewis' excellent writing!

Jessica Lewis' debut is like nothing I've ever read in YA. In BAD WITCH BURNING, we follow Katrell as she evolves from a girl in a horrific household channeling the dead for a shot at a better life into a powerful summoner of the dead stuck on a descent into danger. BWB seamlessly blends magic and witchcraft with the exhausting, real-world troubles that teens in poverty face. We know that reviving the dead is dangerous, but the allure of money and a way out keeps Katrell from making safe choices. Katrell, like many teens, holds far too much weight on her shoulders for someone her age. She worries about bills, healthcare, job security, and more while her passive mother and her mother's abusive boyfriend make Katrell's life a living hell. Desperate for an escape and a life of her own, Katrell is incredibly human, flaws and all. She ignores warnings, throws her own wellbeing to the wind, and lashes out at those who want to help her. She loves her friends but refuses to accept pity from them. She wants freedom, but she wants to earn it herself. Her voice leaps off the page and even in her darkest moments, you root for her and want her to win.

I've been wanting to read BAD WITCH BURNING since I saw it announced almost two years ago, and it lived up to my expectations in every way. This book is essential reading for every teen; part magic, part heartbreak, this story of resilience and learning to make your mark will stay with me for a long, long time.

I really enjoyed Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis. Lewis manages to write a story that grabs you and doesn't let go, both engaging and entertaining to the point you stay up all night reading. I did find the characters rather annoying and wish we had more explanation as to where her powers came from because that seemed to be lacking.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC ebook of Bad Witch Burning. Big thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this fantastic book early.

I could not put this book down and flew through it because I just could not stop reading. Trell is a refreshingly flawed, realistic teen dealing with far more than any sixteen-year-old should have on their shoulders. Lewis perfectly captures the confusing and often contradictory feelings she goes through while trapped in a horrible situation by people who should be protecting her.

Bad Witch Burning is sad and fun at once. It's just the right amount of creepy without crossing into horror. The author's use of foreshadowing is magnificent and part of the reason I couldn't put the book down; for over half the book I knew there was *something* else going on but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

The characters are the other reason it was so engrossing. The plot itself is a great read but the characters are what keeps you hooked. I felt so much emotion for Trell as she struggles to understand the mixture of betrayal and fear and love she is wrestling with. The characters are human and they make mistakes, even the "good" ones, which is a wonderful thing to find in YA.

This book is so much more than the blurb would have you believe. Yes, it's a story about a teen witch raising the dead for money, which is exactly as awesome as it sounds. But it's also about friendship and betrayal and abuse and found family and knowing when it's ok to lean on other people. I can't wait for this book's release so I can have a hard copy because I'm already looking forward to rereading Bad Witch Burning.

I'm anxiously awaiting the next release from the author.

Jessica Lewis’ debut novel, Bad Witch Burning, follows 16-year-old Katrell. Having discovered at a young age she could see ghosts, Katrell has spent the few years using her ability to summon them as a money source. After her mom lost her job and moved in her worthless boyfriend, someone has to pay rent. But when a summoning turns into a resurrection, Katrell changes her business model and starts resurrection her clients loved ones instead. Suddenly she has to choose between pulling herself out of poverty or putting her loved ones at risk.

Voiced in first person by the main character, this book truly was an adventure. Every emotion, hardship and struggle are passed onto the reader. You feel what Katrell does, you go through what Katrell does. The book felt like it was written by a 16-year-old in the thick of mental health and I mean that in the best possible way. I’ve never related more to a character based solely on how emotional and encompassing the writing was.

This year has been the year of witches in terms on new releases but none that I’ve read have come close to touching this one. This book felt life changing. Black girl magic, the reality of poverty, the diversity, the friendship. I would (and already have) recommend this book to everyone I talk to.

There will be a more in depth review on my blog in the next few days.

There comes a book, about once a year, that just grabs you, doesn't let you go, and you fall helplessly in love with the work and the author.
That book this year is Bad Witch Burning. I was hooked from page one. The characters especially Trell and Will are so compelling. It was so hard to stop reading this book, and yet at the same time, it was a book that I wanted to savor. I wanted to take my time and really think about all of the things going on in the book.
This book is for anyone who wants a good book on love, family, relationships, and the lengths you will go to protect all of them.
I can't go into to much detail about the story, but its so good that you will cry out for MORE when you are done.
This book NEEDS to be turned into a movie and I can't wait to read more works from the author.
Two thumbs WAY UP for this brilliant book.

Engaging writing and an intense story of emotions. I loved following Katrell's journey through the book (full rtc)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-copy of this book for me to review.

3.5 stars. I have never loved and hated a book so much before.

Pros:
-The writing is engaging and entertaining
-The plot was slow to start but the last half is non-stop and I couldn't put it down
-Will and Mike

Cons:
-There is zero explanation about where her powers come from, do other people have powers like her, etc. This is the fourth "girl who can talk to ghosts" book I've read so far this year and the only one that just ignores the origin of her powers. This feels like a missed opportunity to make this a series.
-Katrell. I feel for her and admire her strength to overcome what she was dealt, but she is so flawed and made so many stupid decisions that I hated her and really struggled to connect with her.

This was a slow start for me. I was so annoyed by Katrell and her bad decision making, I was really close to DNFing this. The end did pick up kept me reading well past my bedtime. This is definitely an important book and a darn good horror book, but I personally could not get behind the MC's decisions and internal monologue. I could see this making an awesome TV show though.

Loved the book! I will be posting a full review once the publication date is closer!

For the final version of the book, I hope that a list of tigger warnings is included.

Badass in the best way possible! A highly recommended first purchase for public YA and HS school collections - kids will eat this up!

I finished this book in a day. I have not read this fast for a decade.

"Bad Witch Burning" is a fast-paced, smart novel with heart that really captures a modern teenager's struggle with poverty. As well as having action-packed entertainment, this book gives a voice to abused kids with a terrible home life, trying to make it in the world as normal. The fantastical/horror element of raising the dead was an extremely exciting bonus!

This book is part entertaining and part heavy-hitting. The commentary on the broken system that treats children in poverty in the USA, children of colour in particular, comes naturally through the story itself and is not in your face, which I appreciated. The author also treats the issue with care and respect by giving us a cast of characters with varied experiences.

I also really liked that aside from the main character's abusive family, everyone else was wholesome. It's hard to not think everything is terrible right now, especially for the younger generation, and it was refreshing to see a wonderful support network around the main character that she could lean on if she wished. An amazing best friend and supportive adults are usually overlooked in fiction, and I applaud the author for including so much moral support for the story's protagonist, Katrell, so we finally look at our own lives and see that we might not actually have to be alone.

Highly recommended!

BAD WITCH BURNING was an intense emotional roller-coaster filled with rage, sorrow, and a spark of hopeful joy. There' wasn't a single moment I didn't root for Trell, who truly had such a complicated, traumatized, and chaotic life. Her mother was awful. Her mother's BF was even worse. And her whole home situation was enough to make me want to burn the house down myself. But all the hardship truly made me feel so much empathy for Trell, and led me to understand why she turned to raising the dead from the grave to solve her problems. It seems extreme until you get that up close and personal view of how much her life sucks. It pulls on the heart strings.

This was the first time in a long time that I was unable to put a book down. BAD WITCH BURNING wasn't the usual YA book filled with horrible adults and few kind, caring souls in sight. While her home life was horrid, she had people like Will and Mike who stayed by her side, thick and thin, and fought for her. It was such a good reminder that relationships aren't perfect, but that's because WE aren't perfect, and we often fail in them because there's a lack of balance and boundaries. I love how BAD WITCH BURNING explored this theme alongside found family and coming of age.

Also, the horror vibes were KING <3

My only word of caution would be to keep in mind this book is DARK. There are guns, animal and child abuse, murder, and a few scenes of fleeting graphic violence. So keep that in mind going into the book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me and ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own ~

This was such an intense story. I felt every emotion reading this, sadness, joy, pain, and anger, so much freaking anger.

Katrell's mother in this book was the most selfish character I have read about in a while. The relationship between her and Katrell was completely one sided and just took advantage of her daughter over and over again while allowing her to be hurt. As someone who grew up with an abusive parent, this aspect of the story hit close to home.

I love how Jessica Lewis incorporated the dead (also refered to as Revenants) into Katrell's situation. The emotional ties they had to her were complex and so heartbreaking the further you got into the book.

The use of the word "burning" to describe Katrell's pent up anger was completely accurate. You can't help but root for Katrell as she falls further and further into the brink of destruction trying to save herself and those she loves.

This was a strong debut and im looking forward to seeing what Lewis does in the future

A fantastic YA contemporary fantasy featuring a main character young readers will find relatable and engaging. Lewis presents an engrossing story that will have readers turning the page. Highly recommended.

All I have to say is wow! This story was written so beautifully. Katrell makes you want to scream at her but you also have so much empathy for her given the circumstances. She thinks she’s alone and has to do everything for herself which leads to some pretty self destructive ways. I can relate to Katrell in more ways than one and her redemption arc was done so well. I had a hard time putting this book down and it held my attention from the very beginning until the end. I could feel the emotion through the words and I experienced those emotions as if I were Katrell because of the fantastic way it was written by Jessica. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to see what Jessica has in store for us next!

This story was jarring, in the best of ways. I don’t often provide content warnings in my reviews (this is due to not knowing everyone’s needs). I do want to give a massive warning to pet death/murder and domestic abuse.
Katrell and Will can both be incredibly frustrating characters. However, it’s all in realistic ways. Their actions are not supposed to be inherently the most likeable. There is genuine character growth in this book, and it never feels forced.
The story was dark for many reasons, from paranormal to emotional. The paranormal aspects were fantastic to see and really brought this book to life (or back from the dead? Bad joke, I’ll see myself out). Lewis has really brought something to the table with this book, and I loved it.
My full review will be posted on August 23rd, 2021.