Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

Honestly, when I read this it just seemed like there were a lot of editing errors. I wasn't super into the writing style, which seemed a bit juveline, and the plot moved so quickly, but not in the best way. Like, we jumped right into the action, but I also felt like...nothing had really happened. The book had an interesting concept and the world building was done really well, but I also didn't really enjoy Ava or Kaye's romance, aside from maybe their first kiss. I think perhaps, this one just wasn't for me.

While I did like the premise of TWATV, the thing needed to drive this story was the characters, and unfortunately our characters are a little one dimensional. They are both defined by their supernatural status, while having little else to drive them towards the push and pull of a romantic relationship. Which I thought was gonna happen based on the description and cover! But we barely get to see Kaya and Ava be together like that. I did the like magic plot and setting, but thought our main characters fell totally flat.

In this captivating fantasy romance, the author weaves a beautifully intricate world filled with magic, adventure, and an undeniable chemistry between the protagonists. From the very first page, readers are drawn into a richly imagined landscape where the stakes are high, and love transcends boundaries.

The characters are delightfully complex, each facing their own trials and transformations. Their journey is not just about romance; it’s about self-discovery and the courage to embrace one’s true self. The chemistry between them crackles with tension, making every shared moment feel electric and deeply meaningful.

The plot is expertly crafted, balancing moments of heart-pounding action with tender, intimate scenes that linger long after the book is closed. The author’s lyrical prose brings the settings to life, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and danger of this enchanting world.

Overall, this book is a delightful escape that deftly combines elements of fantasy and romance. It’s a testament to the power of love and the strength found in vulnerability. Perfect for fans of the genre, it’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a magical journey of the heart!

I love how this book explored the forbidden love between a witch and a vampire. the characters were well developed and the plot was intricate. readers will be excitedly waiting for more from this author.

DNF @ 10%

I wanted to love this so badly. The premise was so compelling, but the first couple of chapters just failed to capture my attention. I needed more depth from the writing and characters.

A sweet star crossed sapphic lovers' tale with a super natural twist: witches and vampires! This could have been more polished, but it was a sweet supernatural love story.

I ended up also getting the special edition of this book from Owlcrate and enjoyed it. It took me too long to start it but I am glad I did.

The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores is an enchanting and thrilling reimagining of the Rapunzel tale, set in a world brimming with magic, danger, and complex relationships. This story is a refreshing take on the classic fairytale, infused with a queer romance that adds depth and modern relevance.

Ava and Kaye, once best friends, are now on opposite sides of a deadly conflict. Ava, transformed into a vampire and held captive by her own mother, escapes into a cursed forest, seeking refuge and answers. Kaye, a Flame witch sworn to protect her town by eliminating vampires, secretly follows Ava with a mission of her own. As they journey together through a forest filled with monstrous trees, attacking vampires, and ever-present danger, their past friendship and burgeoning romantic feelings complicate their perilous path.

The world-building in this novel is immersive and vivid, drawing readers into a richly detailed setting where every turn of the page reveals new threats and deeper emotional stakes. The representation in the story is spot on, making it a must-read for young adults and teens alike. While the writing style is youthful, it carries a charm that promises even more growth and depth in future works from Francesca Flores.

Overall, The Witch and the Vampire is a captivating adventure that fans of fantasy and fairytale retellings will thoroughly enjoy. It’s a story of love, trust, and survival, where the characters' greatest threats are also their only hope. This book is a delightful addition to any young adult’s bookshelf, and I eagerly anticipate more from this promising author.

First of all, this cover is absolutely gorgeous. I enjoyed this book overall. It did take a little while for me to get into but it was okay.

I had a hard time reading this book. The writing felt juvenile, and I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters. Ava was quite weak for a vampire. Kaye automatically jumped to conclusions without much thought. I honestly had to give up before finishing.
Thank you for the chance to read this book in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

I thought I read this book and left a review a while ago.
From what I remember of this book the characters were fun and the plot was okay not exactly what had been expecting but still a good book.

This was a cute story. There was a lot of info-dumping where I'd rather have had more information and back story for our two main characters. I think if you're going to try and do so much world building, you need more time to do so. We could have had the best of both worlds with a duology!

First, as other eARC readers have noted, the eARC from NetGalley at least was a mess but I did enjoy the greater story of resolving a conflict between a Flame witch Kaye and Root witch turned vampire Ava, once friends turned enemies by circumstance and made more than friends by the end.

When Ava flees from her mother Eugenia and tormentor Zenos it's into the woods filled with vampires she goes, to the Vampire Queen Casiopea, guided by the journal of Calluna Mentara - mother of Kaye who was murdered, presumably by vampires.

As personal truths are unraveled by Ava and Kaye more about their world is also explored, it's history is one where gods called Arkana gifted mortals with magic by becoming mortal and giving birth to children with the gift, they've eventually left the mortal plane where those witches (gifted with types of magic either of the earth -Root, or fire 'Flame', others are also mentioned) left behind faced prosecution by normal people until vampires, created by accidental torture by mortals on witches, resulted in a unification of humans and witches against vampires.

Ava and Kaye are joined by their friend Tristan, who's father Liander holds secrets which will shape the future of humans, witches and vampires.

This ultimately made me somewhat fondly remember The Brothers Grimm from 2005, where the brothers Grimm find themselves actually in a fairy tale and where the vampire/witch of a Rapunzel seems to be coming from most strongly in recent years, with a dash of perhaps Avatar the Air Bender with the elemental based "witchcraft".

Queering Rapunzel isn't as new to me as it might be to others. I do recommend the Prism Knights series by J. Kiakas and Celine Frohn 's Queer Gothic Anthology series beginning with Unspeakable: A Queer Gothic Anthology if you care to dig into queering Repunzal which have their roots in the fascinating myth of Hero and Leander as suggested by (Shifting Currents: A World History of Swimming).

This book just couldn't hook me unfortunately. I tried the audio and the ebook, and it just wasn't sticking. I love the premise, but I've been less and less into YA which I think is my issue.

This one did not work for me. I was drawn to the cover and the premise, but the execution just did not draw me in. I felt like I have zero attachment nor interest in the world that was created. I also ended up listening to the audiobook and it was cringeworthy. The narrator tried to pull off witchy type voices and it felt like I was being read to like a small child. Just not for me.

This wasn’t for me; the characters and plot were underdeveloped and I was hoping for … more from the story overall.

This book was requested by a previous Lesbrary reviewer who did not finish or review it. In order to keep my Netgalley feedback up to date, I am submitting this review marking it as a DNF, though it was another reviewer who requested this.

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Ava and Kaye used to be best friends. Until a tragic night took Kaye's mother and turned Ava into a Vampire. The two have been enemies ever since. Meanwhile, Ava has been trapped in her mother's tower. Can these two mend? Or, are they meant to be enemies forever?

What I 🤍:
💕 Rapunzel Retelling
👥 Friends to Enemies to Lovers
🌈 Sapphic Romance
🧛‍♂️ Vampire X Vampire Hunter

I was so excited to get my hands on this book! Anything Rapunzel is up my alley. Unfortunately, this book just felt like it was missing something. Maybe because it felt one sided? Or, maybe the enemies to lovers thing was too much. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't as thrilled while reading.

This friends-to enemies-to now we have to help each other-to I think I wanna kiss you is the kind of sapphic fantasy I wish we could get more of.

This twist on vampires and witches was just the vampire story I didn't know I needed. It was an enchanting read, that had me at the edge of my seat waiting to see if how everything was going to work out. I loved the characters and the world building, I cannot wait to read more from the author and I hope we get more romantasy sapphic reads for this one.