This book tells about two witch sisters, Minna and Kaija who grew up isolated, yet found themselves living alone after the death of their grandma. Their own mother got burned as a witch many years ago. Kaija misses her old life in the village and doesn't like being alone in the wilderness, leaving Minna who felt utterly betrayed.

The sisters couldn’t be more different, Kaija’s magic was peaceful, connecting her to nature and helped them living in the wild. The younger sister, Minna, uses darker and more unpredictable magic, and desired revenge for their mother's death.

I like the dark fantasy elements and how it blends to the story seamlessly. However, sometimes the descriptions could be a bit too long, and there were some abrupt time jumps. The dynamic between two very different witch sisters was interesting, I just wish there could be more dialogues between them.

I would still recommend it to those who love a witchy read.

I really love a witchy plot and one with some revenge but man I hate to say it but The Witches at the end of the World did not live up to what I was hoping for.
The things I loved was how the author Chelsea Iversen can tell a story with such vivid descriptions that I could picture it all. I also loved the setting of this. I’ve read so many of witch trials in America that set in Norway was such a nice change.
My main problem was that I was so bored with the actual story. If I was not reading for a review, I have to be honest and I would have stopped at about the 25% mark. So many descriptions for not a lot that was going on.
Thank you to NetGalley, Chelsea Iversen and Sourcebooks Landmark for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Witches at the End of the World by Chelsea Iversen via Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark and I have to say, this was a compelling read. It was a book that was heavy on vibes and emotions, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the events slowly unfold for sisters (and witches) Minna and Kaija. If you’re looking for a very witchy, cozy, suspenseful story to kick off the fall season, I think this book is a great pick.

I loved Iversen’s approach to witchcraft and her centring of it within a part historical, part fantasy-meets-Norweigan-folklore setting. It made for a unique kind of magic that felt like it had roots in a very tangible place with real history.

I also loved the dual perspective approach, particularly as Minna and Kaija were so clearly two opposite sides of a coin. Minna was all fire and fury, sometimes in a way that evoked a strong sense of feminine rage, but also in a youthful way that demonstrated how much growing and learning she still had to do. However, it was Kaija who I felt had the most interesting character arc. She seems shallow and basic for quite some time, and as the suspense builds, I found myself getting a little impatient that she wasn’t putting the pieces together more quickly, but when she finally does, she’s a force to be reckoned with. I appreciated how layered she was, and how often she came to understand more through experience than anything else. She and Minna both are great vehicles for demonstrating the powerlessness of women in the time they were living and the harshness that sometimes came with community living. No matter how Kaija tries, she simply cannot find a way to achieve acceptance, because, during this particular period, anything different or out of the ordinary was to be feared. She dulls herself down to a scrap of who she is, and even that proves not to be enough. It makes it very satisfying when she finally comes to terms with her differences and accepts that they are core to who she is and what she needs to be whole.

The plot was fairly light in and of itself, but the vibes were immaculate, all witchy and cozy and dark and suspenseful. I felt like the introspection of the characters and the emotions they evoked in me kept me wanting to continue turning pages to see where exactly the sisters were going to end up, even if the plot wasn’t moving particularly fast. The end was also perfect for me. I loved the resolution they found and the significant growth that we see in both Minna and Kaija in different ways.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s one that I’ll be recommending. I thought it was an interesting and unique approach to witches and the characters will likely stick with me for some time.

Being Norwegian, and a lover of everything witchy - I was excited for this book. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. Right off the bat, I don't understand the name choice (and correct me if I am wrong), but these are not common Norwegian names. This is not really a big deal, but it threw me off a little. I did appreciate the use of mamma and mormor though. I was not a fan of the writing and was just not able to get into the story or the atmosphere I was hoping this book would give me. I, unfortunately, ended up DNF'ing this book.

"The Witches at the End of the World" by Chelsea Iversen
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: October 17, 2023
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this book. All opinions contained below are my own.

I was eager to pick up this book as we slowly approach spooky season—however I quickly realized this wasn’t the spooky, Halloween type of witchy, but rather the witch trials type. I’ll admit I didn’t read too much into the synopsis, immediately grabbed by the title and cover, but it did affect my perception of the book slightly.

Chelsea Iversen does a wonderful job of character development and descriptions of the setting in Norway. Sisters Minna and Kaija live deep in the Norwegian woods, hoping to avoid detection from nearby villagers. They are practicing witches and have seen what can happen to their kind. However, Kaija begins to grow restless, longing for a family and community of her own and plans to escape to the village leaving a fuming Minna alone at their hut.

The ensuing plot is very lackluster and the reason for my 3 star rating. Without giving too much away the story is told in dual POV with Kaija attempting life in the village and Minna’s journey to get her sister to come back home. The relationship between them feels very true to sibling experiences for me, and I love the character development they both make as they realize the other had strength and skills they didn’t know were needed until they were alone. However, aside from that there is no big plot and is more just character development.

Still a very solid read and a great debut, but be prepared for my description than action with this one.

I wasn’t a fan of the writing style with this one. It felt really matter-of-fact and just didn’t convey the type of emotion that I look for in a book. I had a hard time getting into the story and found that I was just skimming the text trying to get through it.

I was hoping for a book painted with lush scenery and a Nordic atmosphere but that just wasn’t my experience. The premise for this one really intrigued me but it fell flat. I wanted to be swept away by a story about sisters and witches but my feet remained firmly planted on the ground.

I enjoyed this book. It is beautifully written and sets the scene well. The isolation that the girls feel at the start of the book is almost tangible. It is a little slow however, and I feel like there isn't much payoff in the second part of the book.

Minna and Kaija are sisters, witches with very different desires in life. Kaija is gentle and longs for a family while Minna is impetuous and filled with anger over the loss of their mother. As Kaija sets off to find the life she wants, Mina’s anger will set them both on a path that could destroy them both. I loved this story about sisters, love, strength and the possibility of forgiveness.

I love anything witchy, and was really looking forward to an atmospheric Norway village vibe. Unfortunately nothing really happens in this book - there's little in the way of plot, dialogue, action, etc. The pacing, character development, and world building are also weak.

This book focuses on two witch sisters living in isolation deep in the woods of ancient Norway. When one decides to leave for life in civilization, the other takes out her anger at the betrayal. Their feelings are examined as they change, along with the unintended consequences of their magic. It is a book about growth, choices, redemption, and the power we have to choose our own path. There were wonderful details of daily life, surviving in the woods, and the history and descriptions of old Norwegian village life. I enjoyed the characters' changing relationships and motives, and the theme of forgiveness.

3.5
Thanks to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about two witches in northern Norway who have lived alone in the woods with their grandma after the village people burned their mother alive years ago. When their grandma passed away, one of the sisters, Kaija, decides to start a new life by going back to the village, leaving the other sister, Minna, alone and feeling utterly betrayed.

As a whole, I liked this story and what it tried to accomplish, though I don't feel like it succeeded in everything. One of the major aspects of the book is obviously the sisters and their dynamic. While on their own, I liked both of their characters, their dynamic together feels a bit strange at some points in the book. There are times where I just couldn't see why they did certain things to each other, or feel a certain way for each other. And I just wish the book delved a bit more into that instead of the plot.

As for the plot itself, it was fine, it worked and wasn't too predictable. There's always something going on so there was never any dull moment, though I wish there were more slower moments focusing on the sisters' thoughts about each other and why they think the way they do. There were also some scenes spent with some side characters that we never really get to know that well that didn't really contribute much.

Finally, the writing style is rather simple and not distracting, with the occasional flourishes of style along the way. One thing that I noticed is the fact that the writer used a lot of Norwegian terms out of nowhere, which is fine by me because I speak Swedish so they didn't pull me out of the story, but if you don't know any Scandinavian languages, then it might be a bit distracting.

Overall, I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a book about witches, or a book with two very different strong female main characters.

This books was so beautifully written and the messages that came through are so important. There's a witch inside all of us itching to be free. And we are all capable of being both good and wicked, and sometimes, you have to learn what is truly important in life the hard way. Thank you to Netalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

Welp… this was disappointing.

The witches at the end of the world is a book depicting 2 sisters, Minna and Kaija, who happened to be witches, and their journey as they navigate life in a world against them. Set in Norway, a catalyst that causes their mother’s death sets the two apart as they embark on different lives. While Minna bathes in vengeance, anger, and revenge, Kaija decides to lead a new life and hide in plain sight in a village that would have burned her alive should they find out her identity.

To be honest, one of the things that irks me to no end is bad /inconsistent writing. To list an example; in a paragraph about Kaija, a sentence says…”Shall we get started on those ten children?” he says, and closes the door with one steady, stockinged foot. I’m pretty sure no one in real life talks so directly like that. Some of the characters’ behaviors were also slightly eccentric, e.g. 'I want to say something to him, ask him what happened, but I’m not sure he’s even real. All I know is I need to close my eyes now and sleep.' Yes. You’ve just almost drowned in the sea, you’ve been saved by a man, but now you know you need to close your eyes now and sleep? It would have been better if it was described as Minna falling unconscious rather than her knowing she needs to “sleep” right there on the sand.

There were some other sentences that were decently woven, but they did not manage to support the plot. The plot was very vague; whereby for almost a whole section there was nothing substantial happening, and then suddenly at the end there is so much happening. I also got the feeling that the author was trying to write based on the assumption that the reader had already solidified concepts on witching, and there was not enough explanation on it. I don’t even know what do they wear as witches.

Altogether, it was a pretty mediocre book, and while I enjoyed reading the sisters’ relationship, it wasn’t wrapped up that well at the end, and could definitely have been more well-written.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a bit slower in the beginning, but once it picked up it had my undivided attention.

Atmospheric and incredibly descriptive comes to mind when describing this story. The tale centered on sisterhood, namely two sisters who differ widely in temperament and their personal plans for the future, and that which kept them together through their journeys. These two sisters are witches who grew up in isolation. Being Norwegian in heritage, and having a sister whom is quite different herself from me, I really liked that these characters each had their own voice, and I could easily picture the setting of the story. I was hoping the similarities would endear me to the story more as I could immerse fully. The story itself had SO much environmental detail, and not enough background lore to explain certain aspects of the story. Eventually the reader was led to the heart and action of the story as it began to pick up the pace closer to the end, but then it seemed rushed, like something was missing or plot information was cut to save space in printing the book. The lack of interactive dialogue and plot holes was disappointing and the immersive feel I hoped for, never came to fruition. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher Sourcebooks and to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and give my review of this book.

"The Witches at the End of the World" by Chelsea Iversen is a spellbinding story about magic, friendship, and revenge that takes readers to the hauntingly beautiful birchwoods of Norway. The story is about two sisters named Kaija and Minna who have magic running through their bodies. Kaija wants to live a quiet life in a community, but Minna's anger and rage take over her, and she ends up putting a terrible curse on the people who caused the tragedy that tore their lives apart. Kaija doesn't know it, but this action starts a dangerous chain of events that threatens everything, including the life she has made for herself.

Iversen's writing is mesmerising and evocative. It paints a clear picture of the magical scenery and the characters' inner turmoil. Even though the sisters are different, they have a strong bond, and the story is made more interesting by looking at the effects of anger and guilt. As the stakes get higher and the drama gets higher, readers will become more interested in the world of witches and the power they have.

"The Witches at the End of the World" is a spellbinding mix of magic and real emotion that shows the thin line between good and evil and the cost of letting anger get out of hand. Chelsea Iversen writes a gripping story that keeps readers interested right up to the last page. The ending is both frightening and memorable. This book is a must-read for people who like dark magic, complicated characters, and stories about sisters. It will make you think about the long-term effects of one witch's anger long after you've put the book down.

***A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.***

This was a fun tale of two sisters and magic. I’m a sucker for any books about witches, though the plot was slow moving on this one. It’s dual POV and a character driven novel. If you like witchy books, you’ll enjoy this one!

There is an aray of things to like here. I thought the religious views were good to see play out in the writing, The two sisters are the very sterio typical of love/hate relationships.
The actual story it’s self didn’t really go anywhere not a fat lot happened. I really struggled to keep reading at some points. Don’t get me wrong the beautiful writing describing the sisters, their motivations, witchcraft and feminism gets you invested but I really had to push to finish.

3.5; I think a lot of this book worked, just maybe not for me. Thanks to the author and publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows two sisters with wildly different ideas on how witching works and what their lives should look like after the death of their grandmother.

The good: Each sister had her own POV and even though they went through very similar upbringings, they both had clear and distinct voices that were consistent throughout the story. The setting felt lived-in and real, and the atmosphere felt appropriately folkloric and mystical. The arcs for the sisters felt realistic and were constantly in flux in a way that I enjoyed. The magic "system" was interesting to me and I enjoyed the ritualistic nature and unintended results of spells that were a good fit for the story and setting.

The not-so-good: The story itself was slow. The atmosphere felt right, but it took forever for the plot to move anywhere. I thought it was dragging a bit and finally felt something was about to happen, only to realize I was 70% through with the book. The relationship between Kaija and (view spoiler) felt under developed for how much he seemed to mean to her; that portion of the story was much more telling than showing. The resolution and forgiveness between (view spoiler) felt rushed and lacked the nuance I would've liked to see with a revelation as heavy as that was. (view spoiler)

That said, the not-so-good parts of the book for me could be something that makes another person want to read this story. I think this tends to happen with the more witchy/ethereal/folkloric stories I've read where they're more about the atmosphere and they're more character driven than plot driven.

I think if you know that going in, and if that's what you're looking for and enjoy, you'll probably get more out of this story than I did.

"The Witches at the End of the World" is a captivating tale that immerses readers in a world filled with magic and sibling bonds. While the story has its merits, the main character's juvenile behavior adds an interesting dynamic to the narrative.

Minna, the protagonist, displays a level of immaturity that may frustrate some readers. Her impulsive actions and vengeful nature are at times hard to comprehend. However, it's important to remember that Minna has endured significant trauma, having witnessed her mother's burning and being driven from her village. This background helps to understand her desperate need for revenge and the extent of her rage.

The author skillfully portrays Minna's internal struggle, showcasing her conflicting desires for community and justice. The contrast between Minna and her sister Kaija, who yearns for a more peaceful life, further highlights the complexity of Minna's character.

The informal writing style of the book adds an engaging touch to the narrative, making it accessible and relatable to readers. The plot moves at a steady pace, filled with suspense and tension that keeps you turning the pages. The magical elements are woven seamlessly into the story, creating a world that feels both familiar and enchanting.

"The Witches at the End of the World" is a spellbinding read that explores themes of loss, revenge, and the consequences of unchecked anger. While Minna's behavior may frustrate some readers, it is understandable given her circumstances. This book is recommended for those who enjoy dark fantasy and are drawn to flawed yet compelling characters.