Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A witch and a Hunter? It's a tale as old as time and immediately hooked me.

Grab your cloak, light your spell candles, and get ready for a night full of magic, mystery, and—let’s be real—quite a few intense twists in Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis. This fantasy novel is a potion of adventure and intrigue that will have you flipping pages faster than you can say “dark magic.”

The story is set in a world where witches, warriors, and ancient prophecies collide in a fast-paced, tension-filled plot. At the heart of it all is a young witch, on the run, trying to survive and figure out what role she’s supposed to play in this ever-evolving battle between light and dark. It’s like Charmed meets The Witcher, with a bit more emotional depth and a whole lot of heart-stopping action.

What really makes this book stand out are the authors’ ability to create a setting so rich in detail you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into an entirely new world. From magical landscapes to the brutal inner workings of witch societies, every page feels immersive. The magic system is intricate, yet easy to follow, which is always a win when dealing with fantasy.

Perfect for fans of dark fantasy with plenty of twists, Night of the Witch will keep you hooked until the very end.

Thank you for my advanced copy of Night of the Witch - @ NetGalley
Author: Sara Raasch; Beth Revis

Trier, Germany
winter, 1591
If the Sound of Music was a fantasy with witches… Or the most intense moments of the witch trials in Outlander.
This magic based historical fiction/fantasy is set around real events of The Trier Witch Trails that set off a ricocheted effect of witch trials around the world.

Why is know one talking about Fritzi and Otto?! How is he not the new book boyfriend? Y’all are missing out.

"Confession is for sins," I say, winding my fingers through her wet hair.
"That felt pretty sinful to me," Fritzi says in a teasing voice.
"NO,
"No," I say firmly. "Love is never a sin."
Fritzi leans on her elbows, looking up at me.
"You really believe that," she says wonde-ringly.
"Of course."

“She is the sun, and I am not even a moon worthy enough to reflect her light.”

Paraphrasing: ‘She doesn’t need a protector, she needs a warrior.’

While this has its dark moments and I should have heeded some trigger warnings… this story has its hooks in me and I will be chopping at the bits for the second one to arrive.


Triggers:
Fire, Family Trauma, brief mention of burning alive, child cruelty/imprisonment, religious trauma, human branding…

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I love a witchy tale and this one was great. It gave me real Serpent & Dove vibes, which I adored.

This book is a witch x witch hunter, enemies to lovers fantasy - I mean, what more could you want? I was immediately drawn into the bleak and intriguing world, and the troubled characters that lived within it. I loved that’s this was dual POV - Fritzy, a witch who has lost her coven to vicious witch hunters, and Otto, a witch hunter with quite the secret!

These two main characters had such an interesting dynamic, and their chemistry only grew as the story progressed.

The writing style was stunning and I’m so intrigued to read more from this author.

If you’re a lover of witchy books, definitely give this one a read!

Ok, there have been a lot of books about witches come out but this one was top tier. The worldbuilding felt fleshed out and the romantic tension was taut!

When I saw this up for review it was right up my alley! I love this so much that I preordered myself a physical copy before I even finished reading the arc! The 2nd book will be an auto preorder for me as well. From the cover to the plot and writing style. I feel like this book has everything I want in a novel. Perfect timing for a witchy and spooky season read!

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This was an interesting story, and although part of a series, this also felt like a very complete book. And frankly, that was enough for me. This wasn't a bad novel, it felt more like a World War II and Jews vs Nazis for most of the novel. Then, of course, the enemy to lovers storyline was a bit predictable and then a bit ridiculous with HOW in mad, deep love they were. Just kind of made me roll my eyes with that. It wasn't a bad novel, just felt a bit meh and easy to space off while I was reading. The magic was interesting, but also rather confusing at times. The witch hunting and what not was interesting too, with the theory of witches 'going extinct' from the witch hunting. Again, it felt like a complete novel and I have no interest in reading any further.

About a 3.75 star read. I really love a good witch book. This one was darker than expected but very enjoyable! It mixes history with magic (which I love) and makes this book seemed so real. It gave me chills. I really love when authors are able to weave in real events into a magical world.

My biggest problem was the pacing. There were times when things went really fast and times when things went slow and i think the plot suffered for it. I was disappointed in this cause I thought this was SO intriguing. The story was still compelling, but was just slower than expected.

I did enjoy Fritzi and Otto though, they were very compelling and I eat up enemies to lovers. I really liked them together. They were honest and sweet and had GREAT chemistry. Their communication was so refreshing.

This is a great witchy read for those looking for a bit more depth to their stories with romance sprinkled in. Hoping book 2 continues to drive the story and romance!

Fritzi is the sole survivor of an attack on her coven. She watched as Kommandant Dieter Kirch and his witch hunters brutally murdered her family members. She has survivor's guilt and questions her actions to save herself, even though it is clear that there is nothing she could have done. She makes it her mission to find the Kommandant. When Fritzi meets Otto, a witch hunter who has his own reasons for finding the commandant, the two become reluctant allies.

Trigger Warnings

Torture

Why Jackie loves it

This is such an interesting way to reimagine the European Witch trials. I enjoyed the story and the pacing. There are interesting twists in the plot that made me want more. The second book in the series was released in October 2024

I was interested in this book because it's historical fiction influenced by the witch trials that occurred in Germany. I've always been fascinated by the witch trials, though haven't read any set in Germany. The romance was ok, since this is YA I wasn't expecting anything too spicy.

I think the blurb was so promising but once again, I was let down once I actually started reading it. I also keep being tricked by YA books marketing themselves as NA books.

I loved everything about this book and finished it in one sitting. It's a perfect witchy read, even during the moments that had my eyes tearing up.

I felt so heartbroken for Fritzi the more the book went on, but I was also rooting for her, for one thing to go her way. The ending and epilogue had me scrambling to get book 2

Night of the Witch starts with an intriguing premise, combining elements of dark fantasy, revenge, and forbidden love, but while it had moments that pulled me in, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth and consistency. The story follows Fritzi, a witch who lost her coven to ruthless hexenjägers, and Otto, who appears to be one of these hunters but is actually seeking revenge for his mother’s death at their hands. Both characters had potential, but at times, their development felt surface-level, leaving me wanting to understand them more fully.

The enemies-to-lovers romance between Fritzi and Otto had some great tension at first, but the spark fizzled for me as their chemistry felt forced in parts. Their shift from distrustful enemies to something more felt rushed rather than gradual, which made it harder to feel fully invested in their relationship. I loved the idea of their conflicted attraction but just needed more authentic buildup to make it truly convincing.

The story’s setting—dark forests, ominous towns, and the powerful hexenjäger headquarters—has a lot of potential, and I appreciated the atmospheric writing. But while there’s a strong sense of place, the world-building felt somewhat incomplete, and I was left with more questions than answers about the history of the hexenjägers and the magic system. Some parts of the plot were exciting and unpredictable, but other times, the pacing dragged, and I found myself skimming to get back to the action.

Night of the Witch isn’t without its merits; the themes of justice, betrayal, and redemption are compelling, and fans of dark, atmospheric fantasy might still enjoy the journey. However, I didn’t feel fully swept away. For readers who are big on character-driven stories, this one might leave you craving more, but if you’re just looking for an enjoyable fantasy-romance with high stakes, it’s still a decent pick.

This was a nice witchy read for October!! Overall, I enjoyed the story. It wasn't the best book I've read, but it was entertaining and the world-building and lore had me hooked. The forbidden romance is always fun to read and I loved the characters!

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

This was very middle of the road for me. I liked the world and the characters but never felt fully immersed in the book. It was slow read.

Gorgeously written and a fun time all around. Highly recommend for anyone in the mood for witches. Loved it!

If there’s one thing I love it’s books about magic and witches and this book didn’t disappoint me in any way shape or form. I loved every second of it.

This was such a fun read from beginning to end and I really can’t wait to get book two!!!! Otto is also just… perfect. Overall, a great read!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an edge of your seat, intense, witchy ride. I liked that it was loosely based on the witch trials in Europe (Germany). I liked the character development and the 2 character perspectives. Several things surprised me and kept me interested. I purchased this for our high school library but think that this is more of a "new" adult book-readers a little older than HS. There is some romance and unfortunately there's a scene that requires us to place it on our possibly sensitive content list. Definitely need to check trigger warnings for this book.

Good premise based off witch trials in Germany and her revenge for her coven/family. Slow plot though with a fast moving romantic relationship. I'm all for romance, but the plot has to be there too.

Wow… this book was everything I’d hoped it would be! I loved Fritzi - she was always concerned with doing the right thing, taking care of her family and others before herself. And Otto was a complete surprise!

The changing points of view with each chapter offered a unique perspective for each character. And this world, loosely based on historical fact, was so vibrant! I certainly hope this is only the beginning of Fritzi and Otto’s story!