“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.

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*