Member Reviews
Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I absolutely LOVED this. It was such a gripping story, SO well done by the author duo. I loved the German influences which made the tone very unique, and aided with it standing out amongst the popularity of witch novels. I'm very excited for book two! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.
It’s 1591 in Germany. Fritzi is 16-years-old-and a witch. As the book opens Fritzi’s village is under attack. The Church has sanctioned witch hunts and trials. The village is a community of witches. Fritzi’s mother locks her in the cellar to protect her. Of course, Fritzi immediately starts to break out but it takes too long and the worst has occurred in those lost moments. She begins the long walk to the city where her little cousin was taken as a prisoner.
Otto is a captain in the witch hunter legions. Years earlier his mother was tried and executed for being a witch and he’s joined the ranks of the witch hunters to sabotage the movement and get revenge on those who hurt his family.
Fritzi and Otto cross paths. At first they clash not knowing if they can trust each other but it becomes apparent quickly that they will not succeed without taking a leap of faith.
I enjoyed this book. It’s very intense. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It’s an interesting period of history that I was unaware of. It makes me want to do some investigating. Be sure to look at the historical note at the end for some context.
This book was a great example of enemies to lovers in a fantasy world. And it has witchcraft!!!
What's not to love?
I don't want to say too much about this book because I really think one of the best ways to read it is to go in with no expectations and just enjoy the journey.
But you have witches living in an age where they are not able to use their magic openly without being hunted essentially.
Fritzy is able to survive because she is in hiding. And things occur that force her to come out. She meets Otto who is very much not what he seems.
It is interesting to read the dual perspective in this book so you do get both of their thoughts and it really helps to draw you into the characters and understand why they do what they do, especially for Otto.
This book was full of magic and genuine characters. The world was really fascinating to learn about because it's unlike anything I have ever read before.
Definitely excited to continue in this series and if you read this, prepare yourself for a cliffhanger.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Night of the Witch begins with Fritzi, a good green witch and a witch who narrowly escapes an attack on her coven--the last known coven of witches in Germany--by the hexenjägers: religious zealots hellbent on eradicating witches from the earth. She is now on the run from the hexenjägers when she happens to hear another witch being attacked and Fritzi barges in to her aid. From there, we follow the POVs of Fritz and Otto (a witch hunter!) as they both learn that there is much more than meets the eye, that things are not always as they may seem, and that trust and security may sometimes be found in unlikely places.
From page one, the action starts. It starts hard and violently and keeps you on edge the whole time as you get a sense of urgency for the characters. Night of the Witch doesn’t shy away from brutal descriptions of the real burnings that were happening in Trier at this time, so be prepared for some heartbreak. Despite having historical context to the story, it feels like its own plot. Night of the Witch is the perfect blend of fantasy and historical fiction!
All of that being said, this book was beautifully written, and there were so many parallels to now that left me in awe. I loved that German words were sprinkled throughout and gave it a fairytale vibe that was wonderful. I especially love Fritzi, she’s an incredible character who stops at nothing and she wants revenge. Don’t be fooled, this book isn’t a damsel in distress story. It’s really about giving the space for women to save themselves and it was a very nice surprise. Night of the Witch is the perfect blend of fantasy and historical fiction!
I think we can benefit from bringing any awareness to the Witch Trials and the tragedy that unfolded. We can learn about ignorance and the the problems that arise from the fear of the unknown, the fear of those who are unlike us and the fear of speaking truth to power.
“To every witch that burned and every witch that watched, and every promise they made in the smoke.”
I received this ARC free in exchange for an honest review.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat!! Sara and Beth did a wonderful job pulling me in to this witchy world. I love the world building and also the historical leanings. Well done!
I loved this book! It felt real and believable. The characters were really fleshed out, and their relationships made sense. The pace, their emotions and their goals were genuine and it was easy to feel for them.
The story and the setting were rich and based on true places and sadly based on a real period of time when thousands of people died in witch trials in Germany.
I want to keep reading, I want to keep following their stories.
"Night of the Witch" by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis is an exciting and emotional story about revenge, love, and how it's hard to tell who is an enemy and who is a friend. In a world where witches and passionate witch hunters called "hexenjagers" are at odds, the story follows Fritzi, a determined witch who wants justice for the destruction of her group, and Otto, a hexenjager with a secret plan that stems from a personal tragedy.
Fritzi and Otto are both very angry and want to get even with Kommandant Dieter Kirch, who is their mutual enemy. When fate brings them together against their will, they have to deal with their mutual distrust and their growing feelings for each other. As their desire for revenge goes on, they find out that the hexenjager killings were part of a shocking plot. This raises the stakes and makes them question what they believe.
Raasch and Revis write a compelling story that pulls the reader into a world of magic, betrayal, and complicated morals. Each character has their own pain and reasons for doing what they do, which makes them interesting and easy to relate to. The authors skillfully mix action, mystery, and a slowly building romance to make a story that will keep readers interested until the very end.
"Night of the Witch" is a gripping partnership that brings together two different voices in a way that flows smoothly. The result is a gripping and emotionally powerful book. This book is a must-read for anyone who likes fiction and epic stories about beating hardship. Its themes of justice, forgiveness, and the power of love to change things are very strong. Get ready to be swept away by this magical and exciting story of revenge and forgiveness. It will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
***A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.***
Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
We are in THE romantasy era right now, and it takes a lot for a book to stand out, unfortunately. This one was just okay. I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers, as it's my favorite trope. I love the tension, slow burn aspect of it. But this one didn't have me biting my nails or kicking my feet. It was just an okay read for me.
I loved the premise! The characters are very interesting and the dynamic between Otto and Fritzi is growing on me, even if they like each other a bit too fast.
But one thing totally bothers me and it’s the reason why I have to dnf the book.
The author uses German words but in a wrong way?! They use unverschämt as an insult but it has to be “unverschämte Person” or something like that. It’s an adjective and in German you can’t use it alone. Also, the say “schiesse” a lot and it’s spelled wrong. It has to be “Scheiße”
These little things throw me off every single time so I decided to dnf it.
Witches, Enemies to lovers, Serpent & Dove vibes, these are some reasons that I fell in love with this book!
We have a duel POV in this story:
One of them is Fitzy's POV. A witch that lost her Coven (including her mother) when some Witch Hunters burned them down. Now, she wanna take revenge but her path crosses Otto's path. Our second main character that he has his POV.
Otto is a Witch Hunter. Or it seems to be! Because in fact, he just became a witch hunter to penetrate among them and destroy them for killing his mother years ago.
At first, When I started reading this book I wasn't thinking that at the end I'd be in love with it! But now I can say, I love Fittzy and Otto and their love. I love how they started as enemies, but trust's seeds grew between them and a beautiful romance get started.
And I have to say that the writing style is beautiful. I had read Snow like Ashes by Sara Raasch before, so when I picked up this one I knew I'm going to read a book with a beautiful writing style.
At the end, I just want to say that I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved characters, plot, plot twists and even that cliffhanger!
I'm excited to read about Fittzy and Otto again!
Thanks Netgally for this book❤
Night Witch was a good fantasy read. If you like old time worlds and everything witchy, you will enjoy this read. I wanted a little bit more female empowerment from this book since it is based around witches, but I did enjoy it overall. I liked the budding romance and the duel POVs. It was a little hard for me to get into but when I did, it was a super fast read. I’m excited to see what’s in store with this series.
I’d give it 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free and give my honest feedback and review.
This book opens immediately to drama and magic and violence, which makes it easy to get pulled right into the story. The writing is well done and the characters immediately feel real.
I love the way that magic is depicted in the book, and as soon as Otto's internal conflict was introduced I was looking forward to seeing how it would play out.
Given all that's happening between and around the two characters, the love story seems a little unlikely, but charming all the same. The development of the two main characters as they get to know each other better and overcome a ton of obstacles is really well done. The love story ends sweetly and with an undercurrent of fierceness that makes it feel a little more real in light of everything they've fought for.
I'll be on the lookout for another story in this universe.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect with the beginning of this book. It was very dark and sad which set the tone for the first quarter of the book. I think the author did a great job of showing the trauma the Otto had to go through in order to help who he could help.
Fritzi was a strong FMC and I enjoyed her banter with Otto. I liked how we didn’t know the whole story of what happened to her coven but got to find out during the story. I do wish the magic was explained a little better or had a little more detail.
It was amusing watching Otto try to enlist Fritzi to his side when she had no reason to trust him. Otto has a caring heart and you could see that with his sister and Fritzi. I do feel like the love was a little too instalove. It was almost too convenient and not as organic.
The world building and magic was really interesting! I love that it was set in old Germany and the church/tunnel descriptions. I would have loved to dive more into the magic system and the well.
Overall this was a fun story and I enjoyed trying to guess what was going to happen next. The world building was good and I can’t wait for more. The villain was layered and I can’t wait to see what else happens. As well as get to learn more about the forest folk.
This book wasn’t at all what I expected. I have to say the twist on who the LI actually was and what he stood for was really refreshing. I also loved how immersive the Black Forest inspired setting was. The pace was really good and I’m a sucker for dual pov. Would definitely recommend the book!
Huge shoutout to NetGalley and the authors Sara Raasch & Beth Revis for allowing me the opportunity to read this gem early! Thank you!
I was so excited to get approved for this ARC! I am a huge sucker for a witch/witch hunter romance, and Night of the Witch did not disappoint. In this historical fantasy set in the time of the German witch trials, we find two souls driven by vengeance, and an intense loyalty to the ones they love. Their paths collide and destiny throws them down a road tainted by evil and the schemes of goddesses. I liked the historical aspect and enjoyed the fact the it took place in a setting I wasn’t used to seeing in witch trial centered storylines.
All around, I thought this was a awesome read! I was entertained, I liked the writing, and I definitely found myself itching to know what would happen next. The plot was exciting and dangerous, and we get a dual POV which is always a win in my book. I thought the inner monologues of both of the MCs added to the story, and I found them both to be complex characters with deep motivations. As far as the romance goes, I was left wanting a little more. I wanted more build up and interaction between our two MCs. Maybe I wanted to see their feelings for each other expressed in small ways before it reached its climax? This is not to say I didn’t find myself smiling and rooting for our MCs, because I absolutely did! It wasn’t unbelievable, but it didn’t quite satisfy me either. Since this is the first book in a series? trilogy?, I have no doubt the next installment will develop that relationship more, which I am looking forward to!
Bottom line, I loved this book and I will definitely be reading the next one! Thank you!!!
“Night of the Witch” checks a lot of boxes for my personal tastes. A magical world with witchcraft. A gripping story of betrayal and rebellion. Alternating POVs with unique perspectives. And that good ol’ enemies-to-lovers trope (although in this case, they are not truly enemies). The story starts off with a bang and really doesn’t slow down too much along the way. While the focus is squarely on our two protagonists, there are some really interesting secondary characters who could benefit from being fleshed out in a sequel. (Which the epilogue does set up for!) My only real criticism is that love comes a bit too swiftly. The heat and lust felt real, but I think there could have been more of a build up to love.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Perfect for fans of everything witchy, enemies to lovers, and interesting foreshadowing.
This book has a dual point of view. On one side, we meet Fritzy. She is a witch, one of the "good ones" (meaning that she never succumbed to the voice in her head telling her to turn to wild magic). And the start of her story in this book is pretty grim: her whole coven - including her mother - is burned down. She survived hidden in a cellar until the hexenjägers left. What she discovered when she got out was desperation, blood, and loneliness. Here starts her quest for survival and, eventually, revenge.
But on her path, she witnesses a witch being attacked in her home and decides to save her. But whatever potion she uses actually makes the with disappears and Fritzy ends up captured by Otto, a commandant under the authority of the man who burnt her coven down.
On the other side, you certainly guessed it, we have Otto. Who is indeed a commandant, and a hexenjäger, but has a very precise purpose: to destroy them from within. Years ago, they suspected his mother to be a witch, and killed her in front of his eyes. He had a plan perfectly designed to bring the hexenjägers down. But when Fritzy makes the witch disappears, she actually disrupts this well-crafted plan. He has then no other choice than to take her and fill her in, hoping that she will trust him. Because after all, he is the hunter, and she is the witch.
At first, I won't lie, I felt like this book was a good old man saving the women's story. And it kind of made me feel a tiny bit uncomfortable. But as I read more, I actually discovered that it is more of a man giving the space for women to save themselves kind of plot and it was a very nice surprise. I think the story is very well structured. It starts hard and violently and keeps you on edge the whole time as you get a sense of urgency for the characters. I didn't see most of the revelations coming, so this book actually surprised me a lot, which made my reading even more fun.
It's a novel you will read fast. Not only because of the urgency I mentioned but also because of the romance. You want to know what is going to happen. You want to know how Fritzy is going to trust Otto, and how their rocky start can possibly turn into something more beautiful, something that will keep you on your toes. And it does. I absolutely adore Otto, even if I couldn't stand him at first. He might be one of the most interesting and loving male characters I have read of in a YA fantasy in quite some time. And what makes this romance even better sure is the writing. I have whole paragraphs of things Otto says highlighted on my e-reader. He made my heart swell, this man.
Apart from the icky feeling I had at the start of the book, I really enjoyed my read. And now I need to wait a very long time after a cliffhanger and I want to dig a hole in the ground and bury myself into it. Hibernating until I can read about Otto and Fritzy again.
Thanks Netgalley for this read.
Content Warning: violence, burning at the stake, oppression
I love this book cover and I like how the story started off with jägers (witch hunters) destroying a coven of witches belonging to Fritzi and her family. She and her cousin are the only survivors. Otto is a kapitan, a high ranking jäger who hasn’t yet lit a pyre of witches but his time is coming to prove himself. The story definitely throws you right into the conflict.
Of course Otto is not who he seems and instead he is trying to help the witches, but he has to convince Fritzi of his plan. I really liked the setting and history about this town in Germany which had Roman rule for awhile and is deeply Catholic. The historical note even indicates that the Trier witch trials in 1581 Germany are real and lasted about 12 years! I liked that I learned something new. In the story, these jägers are brutal and witch hunting and burning/killing as many witches as they can find. There is a twist in the story that I wasn’t expecting but it made the villain much more villainous. It’s been awhile since I’ve hated a character for being evil and Dieter takes the cake. He is a vile character. But it becomes a fight between the witches versus Dieter and his jägers.
The romance between Fritzi and Otto happens quick! To think Fritzi hated him on the first day she met him but by day two she’s wildly attracted to him and it’s basically insta-love from then on out. They have some steamy scenes together but it’s fairly quick, not very detailed and fade to black.
It was a very quick, fast-paced read. I think some parts were rushed, like the romance and I would have loved if there were more magic in it. There are some spells that Fritzi does but I wish there was more. I did love that the Three: Maiden, Mother and Crone were involved in the story.
Tropes: insta-love, enemies to lovers, witch and witch hunter falling in love
Why you should read it:
*witches and witch hunters
*a good twist in the story that I wasn’t expecting
*quick read and some good historical world-building
Why you might not want to read it:
*insta-love, and story feels a bit rushed
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this story because it was quick and had some historical notes that I found very fascinating. There is the typical witch and witch hunter falling for one another trope but it was a bit too insta-love for me. I think the villain was written very well though, since I grew to really dislike him! I wish there was more magic and spells but overall this was a fairly entertaining read.
I was attracted by the magic and stayed for the plot. The romance and intrigue was chef's kiss. THE ENDING? emotional damage ✔️
Witches and witch hunters, oh my!
Night of the Witch met a need I didn’t know I was looking for while reading…yes I’m a mood reader. The author gracefully intertwines this fantasy world with historical elements. Perfect recommendation for anyone looking for something along the same vibes as Serpent and Dove.