Unfortunately this book just didn't quite do it for me. While the worldbuilding was interesting and the characters were well developed, the pacing was on the slower side and I think a lot of it was a bit predictable. There's definitely potential, but just fell a bit flat in my opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC. Unfortunately the romance was not to my taste.

"Night of the Witch" blends historical fantasy with elements of witchcraft and romance, set in a world inspired by 16th-century Europe. The story follows Fritzi, a young witch who survived a brutal witch hunt that wiped out her coven, and Otto, a witch hunter who begins to question his beliefs. As Fritzi and Otto's paths collide, they are forced to navigate their conflicting loyalties and feelings for each other while uncovering dark secrets that threaten to plunge the world into chaos.
Strengths:
• Strong World-Building: The authors create a vivid, atmospheric setting that effectively immerses readers in a historical period where fear and superstition reign.
• Complex Characters: Fritzi and Otto are well-developed, with their inner conflicts and growth adding depth to the story. Their evolving relationship is both tense and compelling.
• Themes of Power and Rebellion: The novel explores themes of power, fear, and resistance, offering thought-provoking commentary on the dangers of blind belief and the resilience of those who fight against oppression.
Weaknesses:
• Pacing Issues: At times, the plot drags, particularly in the middle sections where the tension could have been tighter. Some scenes feel repetitive, slowing down the overall momentum.
• Predictability: While the story has its twists, some plot developments can be anticipated, making the narrative feel less surprising.
• Romantic Focus: The romance, while central to the plot, sometimes overshadows the broader story. Readers looking for a more intricate exploration of witchcraft and political intrigue might find this aspect underwhelming.
Overall Impression: "Night of the Witch" offers a solid blend of historical fantasy and romance, with a richly crafted world and characters that stand out. However, it doesn't fully escape some genre clichés and pacing issues, making it an enjoyable yet somewhat predictable read. Fans of witchcraft and star-crossed romance will likely appreciate this novel, though it might not leave a lasting impact on those seeking more innovative storytelling.

Heerlijk boek wat je op de toppen van je tenen houdt en het houdt je bezig van begin tot einde! Ik kan niet wachten op andere boeken van deze schrijfster.

I loved the romance! they understood each and could be themselves together. The chemistry between them was amazing! I also loved the slow-burn and the sexual tension between the main characters. There were several scenes that made me blush and smile so much. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. I honestly felt like I was living in the world with the characters. I felt so many emotions while reading this book, I cried, I laughed and I smiled. This book will stay in my heart for a long time.

Night of the Witch is a fantasy inspired by the real-life witch trials that took place in medieval Germany. Fritzi is a witch determined to save other witches from the crusade of Kommandant Dieter Kirch, leader of the hexenjagers who destroyed her coven in a relentless attack. While attempting to save a witch under attack she becomes captured by Otto, a hexenjager who - unbeknownst to Fritzi - is out for revenge against the Kommandant for the murder of innocent civilians, including his mother. When the two realize they are after the same end, working together finds our main characters both stepping into worlds that they had no idea existed, and finding each other along the way.

The description of this book drew me in so quickly - I love everything about witches and witch hunters and was intrigued by the setting. While reading the plot pacing felt very slow, especially with the juxtaposition of the speed of attraction between our main characters. Instead of feeling compelled to figure out what was happening next, I had to remind myself to finish the story. The authors also included many German words to help create the atmosphere of medieval Germany - since I bounced between the audiobook and digital versions, I found it very distracting in the audio and was eh about it in the written format. I wish we saw more of the magic system at play because I felt that was very interesting - who doesn't love magic that tempts you with powers unknown? The last 25% of the book picked up plot-wise and it left on a cliffhanger setting up the next story.

Read if you like:
- Witches and witch hunters
- Magic with rules and temptation
- Enemies to Lovers
- Dual POV

Skip if you don't like:
- Insta-love
- Slow-paced plots
- Many foreign language inclusions
- Graphic depictions of animal cruelty (there is one scene that caught me off guard, read the trigger warnings folks)

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The perfect autumn witchy book.
This book has so many things I love, enemies-to-lovers, witches and witch hunters, duel POV, and a story loosely based on historical fact.
It’s fast-paced with likeable characters and a romance that I am fully invested in.
That cliffhanger though…
Need the next one ASAP.

I enjoyed this story enough that I’m curious about the next book in the series. The story line had unique cultural elements that other stories of the genre typically don’t have, but it felt too familiar still like another reiteration of the same type of plot line I’ve read over and over again. Hopefully it will continue to set itself apart as the story continues.

Night of the Witch was absolutely fantastic! The authors wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.

The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.

Must admit this book just did not do it for me, I found the plot too cumbersome and DNF, which is a pity as the blur held so much promise.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for access to this novel in return for an honest review.

*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This. Was. Everything.
I absolutely flew through this book, I had such a good time. She wasn't exactly subtle with the whole german setting and basically having the witch hunting version of the third Reich, but look, I'm not mad at a little bit of world war two analogy.
The magical world building was very cool, and I am utterly in love with fritzi and Otto and them together gives me LIFE (and thank God these characters are above 18 because the sexual tension and spice was on point).

I absolutely must have the next instalment immediately and will count the days until it arrives.

The Night of the Witch is a dual POV witch x hunter fantasy romance and is the first book in a duology!

Dual POV is always something I enjoy in a book, especially when the two main characters have such conflicting motivations. As a witch and witch hunter, it was interesting to see how their changing relationship influenced their own beliefs and motivations.

The pacing in this book was also quite good, it was quick, easy to get a grasp on the world/ characters quickly so it made this an easy read.

Whilst I normally adore an enemies to lovers vibe, ESPECIALLY when it’s a witch x hunter romance, this one just fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t really see much of a connection between the main characters to be honest. They were attracted to each other, sure, but it felt quite shallow.

It also lost me a bit in the end, the villain and their whole backstory was just a bit random in my opinion; it didn’t make much sense at all.

I fell in love with this story so quickly and just demolished the book. Fritzi and Otto are amazing main characters, and seeing the story through both of their eyes is a wonderful way to watch the story and their love unfold. It's very tense at times as they try to fight again the kommandant. This is such an intriguing look at the European witch trials, and I can't wait to read the second one. Beth Revis has been one of my favorite authors for over ten years, and this book definitely did not disappoint.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to arc read and give mu honest feedback.

Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope. I love a good power which book and as an added bonus there where trials... I was pulled in and kept entertained.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book,
It didn’t click with me sadly. I have been in an awful reading slump so that could be why!!

Thank you for the free e-arc:)

Ended up DNFing this one. I was a big fan of Beth Revis in highschool from her Across the Universe series, but this new book didn’t hit for me.

"Night of the Witch" by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis is a spellbinding collaboration that weaves together a tale of dark magic, courage, and destiny. Set in a world where witches and warlocks vie for power, the story follows protagonist Elara as she discovers her own latent magical abilities and embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about her past. Raasch and Revis seamlessly blend their distinct writing styles to create a richly layered narrative that is both immersive and captivating. As Elara delves deeper into the mysteries of her heritage, she must confront dangerous enemies and make difficult choices that will shape the fate of her world. But amidst the shadows and dangers, there are moments of hope and triumph as Elara harnesses the strength within herself and forms unlikely alliances with fellow outcasts. With its gripping plot, complex characters, and lushly imagined world, "Night of the Witch" is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure.

A new to me author that took me in at the first page. Night of the Witch was twisty and a little dark and I wasn't sure what to expect. I enjoyed the plot and chemistry and look forward to reading more.

Any witchy book is an instant read for me and I always go in with high expectations. This book certainly did not disappoint. I was hooked from beginning to end.

First off I feel like this could be a strong book, however for me the plot fell flat and jumped around a bit to the fast pace it was written leaving me wanting more of the building and tension. I did enjoy that it was fast paced storyline but I think I feel it ultimately would've flowed better with the premise of the magic and plot had there been more building of the characters and storyline without the jumping around.