**This YA book should definitely come with a trigger warning for sexual assault, as there are descriptions of what exactly happened to each girl. **

Elliott, Madeline, Chloe, and Bea meet at a support group for sexual assault survivors. Elliott is frustrated with the fact that these girls are forced to deal with their trauma day after day, while oftentimes the perpetrators get away with a slap on the wrist or with no punishment at all. When she finds an old spell book, she asks the other girls to form a coven with her and get revenge on the boys and men who have done them wrong.

This was such a unique tale of witchcraft, focused on feminism, female rage, and fighting misogyny. It was a powerful story about the emotions that survivors of SA hide inside, and all of the questions they may continue to ask themselves months or years later. The girls are so full of frustration over the fact that nothing ever happens to the men, that girls are forced to think about things like how they dress and what they say when really boys should learn how not to be rapists. It really made me think about how the media shows these cases, about the me too movement, and about our broken system. My heart hurts for anyone who has been a victim of this type of assault.

The four girls were great main characters with such differing personalities. I found it interesting that the girl filled with the most rage was the girl who looks the most buttoned up on the outside, with a huge contrast to her inner personality. The coven really needed all four of these personalities - the skeptic, the one who goes all in on witchcraft, the one pulsing with anger, and the one who had the idea and organizes it all. The bond between the girls grows as they slowly become more than a coven, as they become friends.

The witchcraft aspect brought me The Craft vibes, with these girls unsure what their powers would be and unsure what would happen. I could see this book making a fantastic movie with its heroines that you feel so much sympathy for and the incredible and dramatic tale of revenge. This was a great debut and I will absolutely read whatever the author writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire is a story filled with feminine rage & friendships, that talks about how we each deal with our trauma in different ways, no one better than the other, it exudes the anger that we all feel when we're made to believe that these kinds of actions are 'our fault' and not those of the perpetrator. It's angry and healing all in one and I absolutely loved it. I will say that this book should some with some hefty trigger warnings about rape, sexual assault, child abuse, all of which are talked about on page and in a fair amount of detail.

Elliot is sick of being asked how she feels, of people assuming that talking about her attack will make her feel better, what she wants is action, results, she wants to make the person who hurt her feel even a smidgeon of the pain she feels on a daily basis. Luckily she finds others who feel the same way, Madeline, Chloe, Bea & Elliot don't have a lot in common, but their need for revenge runs deep, so when Elliot unveils a spellbook she found in her late mums things, one that promises exactly what the girls are looking for, their coven is founded. As they each take a turn hexing their assailants, they start to realise that although revenge is certainly sweet, it also comes with ramifications that they didn't expect. They have to make a choice? Continue down the path of revenge, or learn to claim their own power.

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire is a story about how we cope with sexual assault. It shows multiple viewpoints, from those who decided to take their attacker to court, to others who didn't feel they could tell anyone about it, didn't think they would be believed. DeRose makes it very clear that there is no hierarchy when it comes to abuse, every characters trauma is dealt with equally, even if it would be seen as lesser in the law, which is something I enjoyed. It does get explicit in parts, for parts of the hexes the characters have to relive their trauma, but this isn't a book about abuse, though it deals with it heavily, it's a book about healing, about, not moving on exactly, but relearning to love yourself, accepting it wasn't your fault and trying your best to move on from it.

DeRose really focuses on the female friendships. These girls couldn't be more different from each other, but they all have one thing in common, one thing that outweighs all their differences. I would have enjoyed seeing them open up to each other a little more, not about their trauma, just each other, because their relationship seemed solely built around the coven and a need for revenge, rather than budding friendships. But I loved how supportive of each other they were, how accepting, never judging, just being there whenever needed, to talk, to vent, for revenge.

And speaking of revenge, I thought the author dealt with it exceptionally well. It's a hard topic to talk about, one that's always going to be divisive, as it is in the book. We initially see the characters jump head first into their revenge plot, but as the story, and the strength of the revenge and hexes starts to increase, we see some of them start to question whether this is the right option, they feel good in the moment, but as time passes they start to realise that it hasn't changed how they feel about the attack. Whereas others are asking whether what they're doing is enough, they feel that the spells aren't providing enough damage to make up for the harm caused to them. I thought, for such a tough topic, it was dealt with incredibly well. The author gave time to both sides, allowing them both to be ok, acceptable options, but in the end, showing how releasing it can be ok to accept your trauma, to talk about it, because that release of not being the only one to know, or having others to rely on and believe can lift a weight off you never knew you were carrying.

This is a story teeming with female empowerment, allowing characters to go on their own journey, supporting each other and never lessening or trying to one up another's trauma, and though it does deal heavily in revenge, the overall message is one of healing. DeRose's writing style brings an emotional and heightened sense to the story and because of this it's one I struggled to put down. As I mentioned above, there are some serious trigger warnings which readers should be aware of, but it's a story filled with hope and healing and one I think teens in general, but especially those who have suffered abuse will appreciate.

I like books where girls get things done, even if that means revenge. I was so invested in these girls and their path to recovery, and I love how the book ended. Lots of difficult topics covered here and at times it was hard to read. I’m glad the girls found a way to start to heal. Good book!

Sadly as much as I want, this book probably won’t be “allowed” in my library because of new laws in my city regarding books BUT if I could, I would plaster this all over my job. This was breathtaking and heartbreaking. I truly loved this and will hold it dear to my heart. I am all for alternate ways to deal with rapists and anyone who sexually assaults another because the justice system is trash regarding SA. I honestly wish there were no repercussions at all for using “dark” magic or whatever. They deserved to get justice their way and I stand behind that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing, Union Square & Co. for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I want to start this review by mentioning that there are many triggers regarding rape/sexual assault in this book. I think it's important for the audience to know this prior to picking this book up. It does talk about it in the blurb but there are some pretty explicit scenes which may provoke feelings for many in this book.
That being said, I love the idea of girls coming together for a common cause and seeking a way to heal. I will say I was not happy with the revenge aspect of this book. Do I understand and empathize with the characters and why they would want this,? Yes. When someone has been wronged they want justice. Do I agree with it? No. I feel like the revenge aspect of this book, while understandable, went too far. And the girls had no true consequences for their actions. The "blowback" as they refer to it does happen, the girls do feel the backlash of using their magic, but it doesn't slow them down or stop them. And while there is growth in most of the characters in this book, it truly doesn't happen until the last 20%. If you are searching to reach a YA audience age group and teach them other outlets, more productive outlets, for healing, I feel like this should have been more prominent starting earlier in the book. I wanted to see the idea of forgiveness and empowerment earlier. Though them coming together outside of their group meeting was one way they did empower themselves. But I want to see the lessons being learned all along the way, I really didn't feel this until all their stories were told towards the end of the book. On a good note, the girls did eventually learn there are better and more powerful ways of using their magic and at the end they share it with others so they can empower those who go through these types of experiences. The journey they take to reclaim their power is different for each of them.
I really enjoyed the aspect of these girls creating a coven and coming together not only as victims, but as friends. It gives rise to a group coming together to heal. And it also shows that girls from all aspects of life can and do endure sexual assault and rape. This does not discriminate because of color or race and can happen to anyone. Elliot, Bea, Chloe, and Madeline are strong characters, though the book is told in third person and this made it a bit hard to truly connect with them. But I do think they are relatable. DeRose does a good job fleshing them out; each with a distinct personality and story. The exploration of friendship and connection, love and compassion, was my favorite aspect of this book.
DeRose is a great story teller. Her writing is evocative and emotional. The pacing of this book was spot on. I really didn't want to put it down because I was invested in seeing these girls gain some growth. I wanted to know what each girl endured and wanted to watch them take back their power and receive justice.
Lastly, I'd like to take a moment to admire the cover of this book. I love how it touches on the aspects of the magic the girls use to transform throughout the book.
Overall, this was a truly enjoyable book. I think many girls will not only relate to these characters but will learn the lesson of empowering themselves, as victims of sexual assault or just as teens in general. I would love to read more from this author in the future. 3.5 Stars.

Thank you Union Square & Co and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Elliot as well as 3 others, Madeline, Chloe, and Bea, join a coven of witches in order to seek revenge on their assailants. I enjoyed this book a lot, there are some tough elements to this book and Kim DeRose did an excellent job of navigating them! I love the strength, love, bonds of friendship that these girls had! Definitely a tough topic so go into it knowing that but it’s well written and absolutely worth the read!

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire by Kim DeRose is a powerful and captivating novel that delves into themes of empowerment, justice, and the strength of friendship. The story follows Elliott D’Angelo-Brandt, a survivor of sexual assault who is fed up with the lack of justice in the system. Tired of merely talking about their experiences in a support group, Elliott and her fellow survivors decide to take matters into their own hands by using a spell book that actually works.

The concept of a revenge-style coven seeking justice against their unrepentant assailants is both intriguing and empowering. As each member of the coven takes a turn casting a hex, they find themselves forming a deep bond with one another, leaning on each other for support and understanding. The coven's journey of reclaiming their power after facing trauma is beautifully depicted and resonates with readers on a profound level.

The novel handles the sensitive topic of sexual assault with care and sensitivity. It addresses the injustice faced by survivors while emphasizing the importance of empowerment and healing. DeRose's writing is heartfelt and evocative, drawing readers in from the very first page.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to connect with their struggles, triumphs, and growth. The exploration of friendship and love adds depth and emotion to the narrative, creating a compelling and emotionally charged story.

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire is a book that leaves a lasting impact. It is a tale of perseverance and resilience in the face of injustice, highlighting the transformational power of friendship and the strength that comes from claiming one's own power.

In conclusion, For Girls Who Walk Through Fire is a fiercely empowering novel that tackles important and difficult themes with grace and authenticity. Kim DeRose's masterful storytelling and heartfelt portrayal of the coven's journey make this a must-read for anyone seeking a powerful and thought-provoking story of strength, justice, and the enduring power of friendship.
4.6 rounded up to 5/5

I have a tendency to pick up hard-to-read books. For Girls Who Walk Through Fire was no exception.

I must admit, I was not a fan of the whole "using magic as a means of revenge". I was with Kaylie from the beginning. The spells weren't going to change anything; they wouldn't erase the pain, the problems, or the memories.

That being said, I loved that the book is about the coven regaining their power after sexual assault. That message really resonated with me.

Out of the core four, Bea and Elliot have a special place in my heart: Bea, because our stories are very similar, and Elliot because she seemed like somebody I would be friends with.

Out of the core four, Bea and Elliot have a special place in my heart: Bea, because our stories are very similar, and Elliot because she seemed like somebody I would be friends with.

Bottom line: It's about young female witches taking back their power. What more could you want?

Girls coming together as witches... in a revenge-style coven? YES.
It was beautiful but bittersweet, given the theme and all the flashbacks stories. I love the undertone of friendship and love and silver linings, but my heart broke so many times while reading it. I could feel the rage, the shame, the "wrong" feeling of being accused of something that is not your fault... but I especially LOVE the witches-sisterhood bond between the characters.
It was so good!