I honestly requested this book on a whim because it intriguing, but I did not expect to love it this much. 😍

The first book in a series, it follows Fritzi and Otto who are the literal definition of enemies to lovers: a witch and a witch hunter. After tragedy strikes her town, Fritzi finds herself working with the witch hunter who captured her to escape. I found the alternating POVs of Fritzi and Otto rather enjoyable as the reader gets both sides of what is happening in the plot. I loved Fritzi’s desire to redeem herself after what happens to her village, and her relationship with her young cousin, Liesel. 🌿

Otto was a fascinating character for me because of his interpretation of his Catholic faith. I thought his character arc was wonderfully done and that his relationship with Fritzi was based off of her decisions, not his alone. . . Or well, let’s say this is after they decide to work together. 🗡️

While the premise is focused on the history of the devastating witch trials in Trier, I thought it had a rather interesting intersection of religious persecution as well due to the beliefs Fritzi and her coven have. Maybe not a major point of the plot, just something that I picked up on and thought to be quite intriguing. 🧙🏼‍♀️

The only thing that stood out to me weirdly was that I have is that at one point, I did feel like the relationship between Fritzi and Otto was rather rushed, but then looking back at the sequence of events leading up to their budding romance, it does make sense.. . . So really, it was a rather minor setback for me; that and apparently this is YA when I was heavily convinced it was New Adult. 🤷🏻‍♀️

In the end, I loved the dynamics and banter between the two main characters, and I can’t wait for the sequel! 💚

Big thank you goes to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for approving my request in exchange for an honest review. And obviously a huge thanks goes out to the authors, Sara Raasch and Beth Revis for creating a fantastic fantasy set in a historically accurate depiction of Trier in medieval Germany. 🖤

Publication date: October 3, so go grab your copy! I definitely will get mine as soon as my book buying ban is over! 🥰

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Night of the Witch follows Fritzi, a young witch who survives a brutal attack on her coven, and Otto, a hexenjager (religious zealots whose mission is to hunt and eliminate witches) who has infiltrated the hexenjagers in an attempt to find a way to rescue the witches he believes have been unfairly imprisoned.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I thought Fritzi and Otto were solid characters -- though my feelings did fluctuate a lot with Otto being a hexenjager (I do ultimately think his role in the hexenjager's atrocities was decently challenged by the narrative) -- but the world they lived in did not feel fully realized. I'm not sure if there was more worldbuilding that needed to happen, or if the worldbuilding was simply undercut by a plot that kind of just... happened.

I do think Revis and Raasch are excellent writers at the sentence level, and the book certainly kept my attention. I simply just found myself wanting more, with higher expectations than what I felt I ultimately got.

If you look at this book as a romance, I think it functions better than if you look at it as a fantasy. Its romance was its strongest point by far, and definitely the thing that will pull me back for book 2.

This is a retelling based around the Witch Trials, and we join Fritzi who has survived a brutal attack on her coven and is looking for the only other surviving member.

Along the way, she crosses paths with Otto, who is a captain of the Witch hunters, but isn't all he seems.

Fritzi immediately distrusts Otto due to his title but when Otto explains he is on his own journey, one of revenge and hopefully making things better, Fritzi agrees to help him

Along the way, they will find out so much about Magic, and each other, but is it enough....

The world was cruel and harsh, but with hope along the way, and a touch of destiny.... and this particular enemies to loves story felt very Nina and Matthias to me and I loved it.

After that ending, I cannot wait on the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and SourceFire books for the early copy of this... and it was released yesterday so you can pick this up now

“You’re…exceptional, Otto Ernst.” “Exceptional?” he asks, arching an eyebrow at me. “Well, acceptable, at the very least.”

Night of the Witch was absolutely addictive and magical. Fast paced, action packed and utterly nerve wracking. It’s a story of hope versus fear. Of light vs darkness. Of standing up for what’s right. Filled with stalking dangers, captivating characters and so much fire. I literally could not stop reading. I was totally enraptured. Bewitched. Obsessed. I can’t wait for everyone to read it so I can really talk about it. Ps. When you are done, don’t forget to read the authors note.

✨ALL THE THINGS✨
•History meets fantasy •Witch trials in medieval Germany •Spells and magic •Hexenjägers aka witch hunters •Dual pov •Hurt/ comfort •Spiced wine and beer •Only one bed •Secret agendas and twists •He falls first

“Tonight,” she calls, “we protect the Well by leaving the Well. We defend magic beyond our border. Tonight,” she yells, her voice ringing out, “we ride!”

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me! The plot sounds super exciting but it just didn’t follow through on my expectations. There was no chemistry between our main characters and the villain felt like their plot line was just cobbled together last minute.

dnf

The premise of this book has so much potential. But, unfortunately, I didn’t love this book. The plot moved very slow, while the relationship moved fast. I feel like the slow burn would have been warranted here qs like a parallel to the plot. The world building—however— was definitely its strong point.

I first want to thank Sara Raasch, Beth Revis, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for this ARC ebook edition.

Fritzi is a green witch in one of the last covens in the Roman Empire. Raised by her mother, who has been chosen by the Mother, one of their three goddesses, she's been taught to only ever draw from the Well, only use her power for good. And to stay away from Wild Magic at all costs. Except, Wild Magic wants Fritzi. It wants her to break off from the well so it can show her the full limitlessness of her potential.

When a group of hexenjägers -- witch hunters -- raid her small village, Fritzi is one of only two who survives. Now she needs to free her younger cousin from the hexenjägers grasp and do what she can to stop the mindless killing of innocents.

Otto Ernst is a hexenjäger. At least on the surface. But he's been working for years with his sister to devise a plan that will not only free a hundred innocent lives from being burned at the stake, but could encourage the people of Frier to rise up against the hexenjägers. Against the Arch Bishop.

As these two find themselves walking the same path after an unexpected encounter, they'll have to work together in order to achieve both their goals -- rescue the innocents, protect the witches, take down the hexenjägers and, most importantly, their leader. Kommandant Dieter Kirch

This book had Serpent & Dove vibes to a small degree. One is a witch, the other a witch hunter. Despite standing on opposite sides, they find their goals are the same. However, that's primarily where the similarities lie. Where S&D was full of banter and bawdy songs, this book focuses more on the grim situation that led so many innocents. Where Reid and Lou truly were enemies, even while they had to pretend not to be, Fritzi and Otto have an almost instant and tender connection to the point "enemies to lovers" doesn't quite match the vibe of this book.

I loved the magic system. The limits. The rules. I liked the gritty nature of this book. The darker atmosphere and harsher realities.

That being said, our primary villain fell a little flat for me. To be sure, he was plenty scary, vicious, mad. But this is a man who only wants more power. A man with a god complex. And that kind of villainy has always felts a bit lackluster. I like my villains to have deeper motivations behind why they seek to accomplish their goals. I like when I, as a reader, can almost understand why others might follow them, even if I wouldn't. But a bad guy who does bad things for the sake of being bad? It just doesn't hit with me.

Ultimately, this ended up being 3.5 stars, rounded up. Loved our heroes. But found I didn't care anything about the villain. Rather, the politics behind the rules of the magic and those driving the witches were far more interesting.

Loved this book so so so much. My witchy soul is very happy that I got the chance to read this amazing book, It is such a fun and interesting ride. The characters are amazing and the fact that we have a sassy witch with a witch hunter that is kind of a hidden cinnamon roll-ish? made the romance very satisfying. There are parts that go back and forth with no warning but that is the magic of it. You really have to stop and process whats happening. I honestly recommend everyone to read it with zero rush. It is a beautiful story that trapped me from page one. I'm a huge fan of history and this book took me on a ride that not many books make me take. I sometimes felt I was present in the moment; reliving the past and I cannot tell you how much it enamored me.
Don't hesitate and read Night of a Witch. It is the perfect book for fall too!
Here you’ll find:
Enemies to lovers 🗡️❤️‍🔥
Found family 👭
Witch trials ⛓️
Dual POV👫
Medieval Germany 🏰
Sassy Witch🔮
Witch Hunter 🤡

I'm a huge fan of Beth Revis, so when I saw that she had an adult book ABOUT WITCHES releasing, I knew I had to read it. Sara Raasch is a new to me auth9or, but their ability to weave this story with Beth made me a fan.

Night of the Witch is a retelling of the European Witch trials (also, sidebar, but I've recently been learning German, so having this set in German speaking areas was fun). We have dual POV from a young witch, trying to resist falling into madness and a magic she shouldn't use, as well as a secret double agent Witch Hunter, set on avenging his dead step-mother and sister.

The takes were high and the romantic subplot was *chef's kiss*. We do end off on a cliffhanger, so book two cannot come soon enough!

The Night of the Witch is a story about a young witch, Fritzi, who loses her entire coven in a horrific attack by the “hexenjagers”, or witch hunters. As she is escaping for her life, she meets a hexenjager, Otto, who is undercover trying to take the establishment down from within. The two form an uneasy bond when they realize they have the same goal and make a plan to defeat their mutual enemy together.

This book takes place in Germany during the medieval witch trials, which is not something I have read before, and I loved this world and the reimagining of history. Witches and historical fiction? Count me in! I thought the system of magic was interesting and I feel there is still quite a bit to be uncovered. Fritzi and Otto were both very likable characters and I thought that the storytelling with their dual POV was handled well. While I was a big fan of their love connection, it was a bit insta-lovey, especially with how quickly their deep connection became. I was not expecting the spice, but it was a welcome surprise and sat at a nice moderate level with plenty of tension- definitely not closed door, but not full blown graphic erotica either. The plot was super twisty, including a huge one at the halfway point that I didn't see coming at all and completely changed where I thought the book was going. There is some dark and graphic violence in here as well and the big bad, Dieter Kirch, is a true psychopathic villain. The book ends on a huge cliff-hanger and I am definitely excited to see where this story will go.

I want to send a thank you to the publisher Sourcebook Fire for the ARC delivered via NetGalley.

I did not know what to expect out of this ARC, but I loved every character and page of this book. This book is set in the late 1500s in Germany during witch trials. The authors included German words throughout, which made it even more interesting. I felt it set me in the time and the place the author was trying to portray. The authors did it in a way that it didn’t cause any reading issues. It is a fast-paced read and is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. I can’t wait for the next book in this series and will check out their other published books.

In the enthralling tale of "Night of the Witch," readers are invited into a world where vengeance and destiny entwine in a thrilling dance between a witch and a hunter. Set against a backdrop of dark secrets and haunting pasts, this novel delves into the depths of human emotion and the unforgiving pursuit of retribution.

Fritzi, a resilient witch and survivor of a brutal coven attack, stands as a beacon of determination to bring justice to those who inflicted immeasurable pain on her kind. Her journey to avenge her fallen coven members takes a compelling turn when she finds an unexpected ally in Otto, a hexenjäger hiding beneath the guise of his own vendetta. Their paths converge in a maelstrom of shared objectives and colliding fates, revealing a story rich in suspense, deceit, and burgeoning love.

At the heart of this narrative is Fritzi's unwavering desire to seek justice for her lost family, pushing her to confront the ominous figurehead of the zealous witch hunters, Kommandant Dieter Kirch. The author brilliantly captures Fritzi's resilience and her struggle to reconcile her thirst for retribution with the budding feelings she discovers for Otto, who, unbeknownst to her, is deeply entangled in her quest for vengeance.

Otto, a conflicted hexenjäger and a captivated reader's point of view into the world of the hunters, grapples with his own history of loss and betrayal. The tormented emotions he carries from the past fuel his resolve to dismantle the very organization that shattered his family. As his true identity is gradually unveiled, readers are taken on a riveting journey, navigating the intricacies of Otto's psyche and the inevitable clash between duty and burgeoning love.

The dynamics between Fritzi and Otto are captivating and complex, unraveling against a backdrop of danger and intrigue. As they navigate their tumultuous alliance, their growing connection adds a layer of vulnerability and depth to the story, reminding us that love has the power to transcend the boundaries of hatred and vengeance.

The narrative is richly woven, revealing shocking revelations and a far-reaching conspiracy at the core of the hexenjäger attacks. The suspense is expertly maintained, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the last page. The plot unfolds with precision, blending magic, mystery, and a touch of romance seamlessly.

"Night of the Witch" is a riveting and evocative tale that will captivate readers from start to finish. The author's masterful storytelling skillfully portrays the complexities of love, revenge, and the everlasting fight for justice. This book is a must-read for those seeking an enthralling mix of the supernatural and the emotional depths of the human soul.

A big thanks to Netgalley and SourceFireBooks for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gave me strong Serpent and Dove vibes, and I don't know if I'm living for it or not.

Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis is a YA fantasy novel about a witch and a hunter. Fritzi is a witch. A survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, she's determined to find her only surviving family member and bring the hexenjägers—zealot witch hunters—to justice for the lives they ended. To do this, she will need to take down their leader—Kommandant Dieter Kirch. Otto is a hexenjäger and a captain, the second in command to Dieter Kirch—but that's just his cover. Years ago, the hexenjägers burned his innocent mother alive and since then, he has been planning a move against the witch hunters that tore his family apart. And now the time has come for them to pay for what they've done. When Fritzi and Otto are unexpectedly thrown together, neither is sure they can trust the other, despite their common enemy. But all they have is one another, and they both crave revenge. As truths come to light and trust shifts, Fritzi and Otto uncover a far more horrifying plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all.

I have previously read Beth Revis Shades of Earth Trilogy (and loved it) and her Give the Dark My Love (and not so loved it.). So it's safe to assume that she is better at writing science fiction instead of fantasy. It wasn't that I didn't love this book, as I quite enjoyed it. But I felt like it was lacking. In what, I can't say for certain. But it also gave me so many Serpent and Dove vibes, that I felt like Lou and Reid were going to show up (spoiler alert, they don't).

Night of the Witch is an interesting play on the European Witch Trials. We follow a young witch named Fritzi, and a witch hunter named Otto. After Fritzi escapes the grasp of the hexenjaggers who have pillaged her coven, she stumbles upon another group of hexenjaggers in the midst of arresting an innocent young women. Fritzi throws herself into action to save the stranger, but finds herself arrested and caught up in a secret plot to bring the witch hunters down. Otto, a witch hunter who is working against his own kind adjusts the plan he has worked on for years, but will it be enough?

As this was YA, I did not expect a lot of romance/spice, but I did feel that this delivered the correct amount of both for what it is. I really enjoyed the development of Fritzi and Otto’s relationship. I will admit the overall story was lacking something. I didn’t think it was necessarily boring, and there was really great action scenes that read well, but the wow factor wasn’t there for me. That said, this ends on a really large cliffhanger, and I do find myself wanting to read what happens next. My hope is that this story finds its legs and the second book blows me away!

This book was so much more than I expected. With blending history and fantasy, the prejudices were so much more real, and the magic so much more powerful. Fritzi is on an impossible journey to find her cousin, rescue witches, and break free from centuries of oppression. Piece of cake, right?

The unexpected element is Otto, the hexenjager who captures her.....and then keeps her safe? Otto is not what he seems at first glance, and as he and Fritzi work together to rescue witches, they learn more about each other as well.

Nothing is as simple as good and evil, especially magic. Fritzi, Otto, and Liesel battle to save the very heart of magic itself in the Black Forest, and they learn that there are secrets buried far deeper than any of them thought possible. The people meant to guard the forest have kept secrets for far too long, and it falls to Fritzi to reveal them and save witches everywhere.

I loved this so much. The characters were multifaceted and real, and I was surprised along the way. I can't wait to see what happens next!

"Love is never a sin."

I was a bit wary at the start, but this book wound up being far more compelling than I expected.

Let me start by saying this book dives right in. In the first chapter, we are immediately thrown into a battle between witches and witch hunters. We are learning the character's names, the setting, and some German terms all at once. But soon enough, like Fritzi, we take off running.

Everything about this is fast-paced. Secrets are revealed in a timely manner that I think works well to not leave the reader frustrated and forgetting about small key details.

Fritzi and Otto are likable protagonists, if at times misguided. But they always try to the best of their ability to do what is right. One thing I will say is they trusted each other far more quickly than I expected. Otto shared his plans with Fritzi, and she took what he said at face value and volunteered to help. It wasn't long after that they were ride-or-die for each other.

That being said, I really liked them together. They were sweet, honest, and understanding with each other. Their chemistry was fire. They avoided issues by actually communicating. They just worked for me.

I admit I'm more invested in their relationship than I am in the actual plot with the witches. However, the plot itself is engaging as well. I did not know much about the witch trials in Germany going into this, but it went about how I expected the witch trials to go: a bunch of innocent women burned at the stake for simply not abiding by societal norms. Dieter was an interesting villain in that he just seemed like pure irredeemable evil. All he cares for is influence and power. Fritzi and Otto made a huge mistake in letting the human authorities take him into custody.

The little cliffhanger made me angry because damn it I just want my babies to be happy but it's clear this is far from over. All because they let a monster live.

I went into Night of the Witch without knowing what to expect and I was completely surprised! This book is a reimagining of the witch trials in Germany. The story started with a fast pace and brutal killings that absolutely captivated me. I couldn't stop reading once I started. I loved all the small plot twists that kept driving the story onward. The world building and magic system were really well done. All of the characters were so complex and real. I especially loved Fritzi. This was a great read for fans of witchy fantasy and enemies to lovers romance. This book published today, October 3 so happy pub day!

Thank you to @sourcebooksfire and @netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Great fantasy slow-burn romance! I loved the plot, it is fast paced, thrilling and I loved Otto and Fritzi. This story is a page turner you will not be able to put down. I can't wait for the next book! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

This story hit everything I love about fantasy romance — the fast pacing (which left room for character development), the slow burn romance, the high stakes, and the shocking political plotlines involving the Holy Roman Empire pre-Germany and witches.

If you like Acotar, the Curse of Saints, Rachel Griffin books, FBAA, or This Vicious Grace — run to pick this up! This is the next book you’ll fall in love with.

Fritzi’s family and coven have been murdered, but she thinks her young cousin Liesel is still alive, and is determined to find her.

Otto is a hexenjager, a witch hunter, and a Kapitan — he’s one of their leaders.

Fritzi blows into his life in the most explosive way (literally), shattering his carefully-laid plans.

I think you all should go in fairly blind, so I’m not going to tell you what happens next, or give you a list of reasons why I will not hear anything negative said about Fritzi *or* Otto.

The world-building is perfectly researched. Lush and gritty, it’s a blend of history and magic.

The themes of this book resonate so deeply— corruption, power, and selfishness warring with bravery and rebellion.

Of course, the romance is everything I could ask for (but I’m still asking for more since we have one more book coming!)

I love how Otto and Fritzi are both flawed and self-aware, but see the best in each other. Friends, I cannot get these two out of my head.

Especially after that ending.

All of my stars — this gets my highest possible ratings and recommendation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

4.5 stars

Where do I even begin? I really loved this book. It's the story about Fritzi, a witch who looses her coven and her mother and wants to find her cousin, and Otto, a witch-hunter who wants to take down the hexenjagers from the inside. When Fritizi and Otto cross paths, they make a deal to stop the hexenjagers together.

First of all, I enjoyed the plot and the pacing, anytime I picked up the book I couldn't stop reading. I really liked the world-building and the historical inspiration of the witch trials, it's horrible to think that those things really happened, but it's also important to talk about them. The writing style was also really immersive, it felt like being directly in the character's mind, reading their thoughts.

I fell in love with Fritzi as a main character. I loved her courage, her strength, her kindness. She loves firecely and would do anything for the people she loves. I empathized with her and enjoyed her arc and her journey throughout the story.
Same goes for Otto, I appreciated his bravery, his passion and his gentleness with Fritzi and I liked his arc. I also enjoyed the side characters (Liesel has my heart, I love that child). The villain was terrifying, i absolutely hated them.

The enemies to lovers romance was very well paced in my opinion, I was swooning and kicking my feet the whole time, I love Otto and Fritizi together so much. They understand and respect each other and would do anything for the other person.

The last part of the book gave me anxiety, and with that ending I need book two ASAP!
I really recommend this story to anyone who's looking for a great enemies to lovers fantasy romance with witches, heavy and dark themes but also characters that'll make you fall in love.