The historical witchy premise sounded intriguing but this wasn't for me unfortunately. It didn't hold my interest so I ended up scan reading most of it - I probably would have enjoyed it more in my teens to be fair.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

This book was such a delightful surprise. I love a good witchy romance, but this witchy book was more gritty and thrilling than other paranormal titles on my shelf. The setting was grounded in the historic witch hunts of 16th century Germany, and the authors brought the world to life in a way that was unique. It felt realistic, making the possibility of witches feel authentic and not like a fantasy world.

When you read this book, you're going to love getting to know the witch and the hunter as the story follows their intersecting paths. Then, before their story is through, we get a peek into a secondary cast of characters that I can't wait to get more of in the next book. Sarah and Beth give us an exciting battle of good versus evil, trial and triumph, and unlikely lovers.

I really enjoyed this book! I think this is perfect for fans of Serpent & Dove. The book jumps right into the story but still does a great job of building both the characters and the world. Fritzi and Otto are both great characters, and I'm looking forward to finding out where their story is headed. I find that sometimes when a book is a part of a planned series, the story can drag on and there are unnecessary cliff hangers. That doesn't happen here. The book, while part of a series, feels like a complete story.

The Night of the Witch reminded me of Serpent and Dove in many aspects. I thought the scenery was fantastic but the wild magic element confused me a bit. I enjoyed the spark between the main characters and the little mystery we witness as we are reading the book. I noticed this book was part of a series but honestly, I don't think I enjoyed it enough to continue. It felt like most of the plot was wrapped up. There was a small cliffhanger but not enough to make me hunt down when the second book will be coming out.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are my own.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire. All opinions are exclusively my own.

Wow, I ended up reading this book in about two days, because once I got started it became more and more enthralling! Night of the Witch blends historical fiction with fantasy in a dark and gorgeous way. The characters, the plot, the worldbuilding, all of it is compelling and rich in a way that makes a story you can sink your teeth into. That said, this book deals heavily with themes of prejudice, torture, and bigotry, and has scenes of intense violence, so please carefully note the content warnings the authors have at the beginning of the text. That said, it doesn't feel that these scenes are gratuitous, but are a necessary part of the story, and serve to shed light on elements of humanity the text shines a light on.

Highly recommend this book!

Overall, this was a solid read! I very much enjoyed the tie to medieval Germany and the overall fairytale vibes. Black Forest? Heck yeah! The characters were also well written. I will say I was surprised at how quickly the romance formed between the two main characters. The romance wasn’t at the forefront, but still woven throughout the story, which is often my preference. Some of the pacing was a bit off to me - like sometimes I would want to skim because parts went so slowly/lost my interest, but then other times I feel like it moved too quickly. I wanted to get a better feel for what life was like at the Well, for example. It feels like we rushed through that part of the story. If you liked Serpent & The Dove, you will probably like this one, too!

An addictive read and exciting characters.

Actually, this book caught my attention because it was co-written with the author Sara Raasch. Since I read it in Snow on Ashes, I liked her work a lot, so I said I'm from here and I'm going to read this ARC thanks to Netgallery and I must say that I made a very good decision because I loved this story.

I love that this fictional world is closely intertwined with reality, with its historical places, but above all with that part of the story where the burning of witches was real and well, innocent people suffered these actions by the church, and I I like it above all because this mixture of fantasy and reality makes me get closer to such a situation, but in a way that I enjoy reading about it.

Also, the main characters, Fritzi, Otto and Liesel, made a divine trio and I had a lot of fun with them. But I highlight how good a couple Friz and Otto are, a lot of chemistry there, the romance 10/10.
But I must admit that my heart was stolen by Otto, he is the kind of protagonist that makes me want to hug him and pamper him because he is an angel and I just want him to be happy.

4.5⭐️

“A witch and a hunter. Vengeance is their mission. Love is their destiny.“

This book follows Fritizi only of the only surviving members of an attack on her coven of witches and is on a mission to find her only other surviving family member and get revenge on the hexanjägers (witch hunters). Otto is a hexanjäger captain but it’s a cover for his true motives of seeking justice for the burning of his mother. Fritzi and Otto are unexpectedly forced to work together and as they do their feelings only grow towards one another as they battle everything that comes their way.

I absolutely loved this book, it was fast paced, exciting, funny and I love the romance between Fritzi and Otto, you could feel the tension and angst between them which only made their relationship better. He was always trying to protect her from the beginning and she didn’t want him to sacrifice himself for her; they were both such strong characters that always fought to help others despite struggling with feeling like they weren’t doing enough. I could not get enough of this book, I’m really hoping there’s another book coming!!

This novel gave the same vibe as Serpent and Dove, witch and witch hunter bound together, altho while Serpent and Dove was an arranged marriage trope, this was more of a forced proximity with reluctant allies to lovers trope. It definitely took time for me to get into it because the way the story is told is a bit slow, as it took a good 17 chapters until the main plot of the novel was put into place. Overall, I did enjoy the premise of the novel and the entirety of the story. I liked the cute and witty chemistry that the protagonist has with Otto, but it felt a bit rushed. This felt like a weird retelling of Lou and Reid from Serpent and Dove but nonetheless, I still enjoyed the novel and the worldbuilding

About a 3.8 rating. I enjoyed that it was face paced, however, I wish there was more to the love bond. It felt like it just suddenly happened versus a growing love. I did like the story and I'm looking forward to book two. Some of the information seemed to be one thing and then change in another chapter but then go back to what was initially said. So that did make some of the pertinent information seem inconsistent

The Night of the Witch blends history and fantasy to create an adventure built around a unique magic system and a familiar conflict. Fritzi is a young witch who struggles with survivor’s guilt after the destruction of her village, which included her coven and most of her family. Otto is a witch hunter with a similarly traumatic backstory and an elaborate plan to bring down the systems that are tearing his community apart. Although they start out as enemies, they quickly discover that their goals align and almost immediately begin working together to save first the wrongfully accused and then the world.

Although the villain of the book is an unchecked megalomaniac, organized religion (both Catholic and pagan) and politics share the blame for most of the damage he does.

The world building, which combines German history with Gaulish and Celtic mythology develops fascinating cultures that acknowledge the complexity of belief systems, even within a closed community.

I just wish the male protagonist were as multidimensional. Otto is a great guy. He’s sensitive, strong, trustworthy. He is (possibly anachronistically) active in seeking consent and open in his acceptance of love in all its forms. But since he doesn’t seem to have any faults, there’s no room for him to grow. Most of the conflicts he faces in his relationship with Fritzi are early on and due to misunderstandings.

That said, although the enemies-to-lovers arc is quicker than I would have expected, the romantic tension between acknowledging their feelings individually and admitting them to each other is no less satisfying. (A couple of scenes are swoon worthy!)

Overall, it’s a well-paced magical adventure with a (mostly) sweet romance.

I started off liking the book then I started to fade but I push forward, and I have to say it's an interesting book yet a little like other books I've read. The plot was very predictable and a little rushed at times. World building was spot on and great.

Exciting and engrossing. I couldn't put it down! Characters had depth and the world building was on point. Recommended!

This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review that you will find below! Thank you again for this opportunity and can’t wait to get my hands on more books in this series.

Night of the Witch was a book that genuinely took me by surprise. When I had first read the synopsis, the witchy concept itself got my attention but the witch x hunter dynamic wasn’t anything new. And surprisingly, I think that’s exactly why this book excels! Raasch and Revis took a tried and true dynamic and did it so well with their spectacular writing.

The story is fast paced and quick and A LOT happens across the span of one book. I personally enjoyed the action packed read, but by the end of the book, it felt as though the main plot in the first half of the book had gotten lost. I do think it would have made the story more impactful if the second half of the book had been a separate novel in itself with more expansion on the magical systems and lore. While I would have liked the first half to focus more on the aftermath of the character’s elaborate plan. Nonetheless I devoured this book and wholeheartedly enjoyed it!

Fritzi and Otto are obvious enemies to lovers' romance and I was thrilled with how this was done. I have a bone to pick with some enemies to lovers I’ve read and my biggest issue is how quickly it goes from very toxic enemies to pressed-up-against-walls lovers. In contrast to that, Fritzi and Otto aren’t slow burn but their dynamic works and feels safe. Their interest in each other does seem relatively quick but there’s no immediate ogling or internal monologues about how attractive the other person is (my bookish pet peeve). Instead, they’re both put in urgent situations and are appropriately focused on that for the most part. Their banter in the beginning is sharp and witty, and I missed it in the latter half of the book where it seems to fizzle out.

Fritzi is an incredible character. She faces great loss in the opening chapter of this novel and I love how this book explores her grieving. The authors recognize that the grieving process is a long, complicated and unpredictable journey and allow Fritzi to feel her emotions without coming off as wallowing in her misery. It doesn’t take away from the quick witted and strong character she is. Instead, it adds a layer to her characterization and makes her more real. I have nothing to say about Otto except that I’ve had this boy for a day and I’d kill for him. He’s an incredibly respectful male main character and is a refreshing take on how a male lead can be dark and brooding but also respect women both platonically or romantically.

For the majority of the story the magic is not as whimsical or fantastical as other books but it falls more into traditional witchcraft (potion brewing, spell casting, herbs, etc) which I thoroughly enjoyed. It feels fitting with the historical setting of the witch trials that the story is based in. When we do get a taste of the magical system in the books, it did leave me with more questions than answers. So I’m hoping and anticipating that future novels will expand on the lore!

All in all, this was a very fun and well written read, and I look forward to the rest of the series! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fast, fantasy read and has a love for all things witchy. A special shoutout to Liesel for stealing the show within mere minutes!

I wanted to like this but instead found myself drowning in a watered down version of a story we’ve read before.

“Night of the Witch” blazes through trials and cleansing to rid the world of magic as Fritzi grieves the loss of her coven and sets off to find her remaining family only to be met by the very people responsible for their fate.

I could not get through this book without comparing it to Serpent and Dove and not in a fun if you like this you’ll enjoy that relationship but rather a “we’ve already done this” type way that hurt my experience in trying to enjoy this book. The plots are similar but the character less memorable as we move from enemies to allies and all the while I found myself reaching over to a better written original version of this same tale.

I did enjoy some of the historical takes on the witch trials through the lens of German culture and how it relates to other instances of this persecution especially when it came to something as simple as beer and how the silliest tasks of daily living can be twisted when those in power have a vendetta.

The characters were fine if not a bit plain I was surprised at how quickly they moved around as I found myself checking the progress tracker finding it all so sudden. I wish we had gotten more the feminine trinity as their mentions were the most impactful overall but alas I can only review on what I was presented and not what I’d hope for.

I enjoy both of these authors but unfortunately feel like their talents were lost in a sea of parallels and for that I have to leave this series on the shelf though I hope the next reader enjoys their time!

*special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review*

My journey through this book was an odd one. For the first 10-13 chapters, I couldn’t say I enjoyed it. But I did not dislike it either. It was an odd feeling, knowing that I neither like nor dislike this book, but I still kept reading it. By the novel's end, I can say I enjoyed my time with it, although it was rushed.

Night of the Witch is a stand-alone historical fantasy novel that takes place in the period of Germany’s Trier Witch Trials. Fritzi is a young witch who has just seen her whole coven massacred at the hands of Kommandant Kirch, a witch Hunter. Otto Ernst is a young Kapitän in the witch hunters guild who has yet to actually kill a witch. When Fritzi and Ernst meet, their goals become one: to take down Kirch and free the captured witches.

By the end of the novel, I liked what I read. It definitely got better towards the middle and the end of the story. It follows the first-person POV of Fritzi and Otto which I appreciated. I can’t tell you how many times I get the POV of one character and I’m left asking for the POV of the other. The one thing that stood out to me was the villain. I think Kirch was a pretty diabolical little guy and I enjoyed how the authors made him cruel, vicious, and downright evil till the end.

Although the magic system isn't really fleshed out in any way, it plays an important role in the story and there was a decent attempt at the end to make it look cool. Aside from that, there’s nothing else too special about the novel. It’s a good read, but I wouldn’t put it at the top of my recommendations list. Congrats to Sara Raasch and Beth Ravis on the first novel in the series! Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the opportunity to read this early!

Night of the Witch is a beautifully written historical witch novel with some really unique magical lore. I absolutely adore enemies to lovers and tis did not disappoint with a witch and a witch hunter. I do think this leans more towards YA than adult but this is an amazing story and a really fast paced read so you won't want to put this down. I think this will be a big hit for any fantasy lovers.

This book simply did not catch my interest the way I thought it would. I've been reading a lot of witch books and thought it'd be interesting to go on a bit of a historical fantasy journey.

I read Sara Raasch's debut when it first came out and I extremely disliked the book. Though I wanted to give her another shot especially working with Beth Revis who I learned about from her contribution to Star Wars.

The concept really had my attention. I liked the idea of Otto wanting to destroy the witch hunters only for the daughter of an actual powerful witch to come into his life. I really thought the enemies to lovers was going to spark something but this may not be the trope for me, and that's on me.

Neither character really drew me in and something about the world building truly felt lacking. Not once did I fall back in time and maybe it's for the better because I'm unsure how I feel about the real life witch hunts inspiring this book.

It is fast pace and an easy read, welcoming to individuals so I hope it'll capture some more attention and is a book I'd want to talk to more people about to see how they feel and if it's similar to my disappointment. I kept wanting to not finish it and honestly nothing about the book really stuck in my head. By the end I forgot most of it, personally. But I know the trope of enemies to lovers and snark is fairly popular right now so I imagine a lot of people may enjoy this one.

"Night of the Witch" is a quick-paced, dark little YA fantasy that doesn't reinvent the wheel, but succeeds due to its strong writing and character work. A few chapters in, and you pretty much can spell out the plot - a plucky, traumatized witch, a witch-hunter who's secretly heroic, and a madcap adventure delving into the heart of magic - sure! Why not? Although I usually knew exactly where it was going, it scratched the itch for action-packed supernatural historic fiction. I particularly enjoyed the attention to detail when it came to worldbuilding, even if this version of the 1500s didn't really look like *our* 1500s. Still, it was fun.

Prepare to be captivated by an enthralling and high-octane journey as witches and witch hunters collide, ushering in a world on the brink of transformation. The pages of this book unravel with a breathtaking pace, offering a thrilling exploration of a world where familiar boundaries blur, and the destinies of both witches and non-witches hang in the balance. What sets this tale apart is the infusion of German words, which not only adds a fresh layer to the setting but also imbues the narrative with a delightful fairytale vibe.

At the heart of the story is Fritzi, a devoted green witch who faithfully abides by her coven's rules, steadfast in her belief that their ways are just and righteous. However, her unwavering faith is shattered when her coven is ruthlessly decimated, and her cousin is cruelly snatched away by the relentless witch hunters. Driven by an unyielding determination to find and rescue her cousin, Fritzi embarks on a perilous journey, vowing to stop at nothing to reunite their shattered family. Yet, in a world where the lines between friend and foe are blurred, rescuing a witch from the clutches of the witch hunters is a treacherous path fraught with unexpected twists and turns.

Enter Otto, a witch hunter—or at least, a masterful pretender posing as one. Otto skillfully walks the tightrope between two worlds, secretly working to aid and rescue those he is meant to hunt down. When Fritzi unwittingly stumbles upon Otto and his sister staging a false arrest as part of their ultimate rescue plan, a chance encounter forever alters the course of their lives. In a remarkable twist, Fritzi inadvertently saves Otto's sister, triggering a chain of events that will challenge their beliefs, ignite a passionate camaraderie, and forge unbreakable bonds between them. This is not a mere enemies-to-lovers story; it is something far more profound and extraordinary.

As their fates intertwine, Fritzi and Otto find themselves embarking on a joint mission to defy the oppressive forces that seek to keep witches and witch hunters apart. Together, they navigate treacherous terrains, face menacing adversaries, and unveil a web of secrets that will shatter everything they thought they knew. The dynamic between Fritzi and Otto transcends traditional labels, blossoming into a partnership built on trust, understanding, and shared purpose. Their bond, forged in the crucible of adversity, holds the power to reshape the destiny of both witches and witch hunters alike.

This gripping tale weaves together elements of danger, resilience, and sacrifice, propelling readers on a breathtaking ride that challenges preconceived notions and delves deep into the complexities of love and loyalty. Prepare to be enchanted by a story that surpasses the limitations of its genre, offering a narrative that is as compelling as it is exhilarating.