Top 5 Reasons to Read

1. Mists and Witches - This isolation trope was so creepy and the lore behind the witches added even more suspense to the already isolated setting.
2. Secrets - Nothing is what it seems, and no one can fully be trusted.
3. Friendship - The friendships in this one are tested.
4. Romance - Who doesn't love a good romance story when reading a horror? It was fun to see Nell fall for someone new and outside of her immediate friend group.
5. Death - Welp, there were some gruesome deaths.

I was really enjoying this at first--the atmosphere, the tone, the characters all started off really compelling. The pacing, though, is where this story didn't quite pull me in. I found this story to overall be pretty boring. It takes so long for us to get going and get into what the synopsis promises (like nearly 200/250 pages) and by that point I just didn't really care anymore--I didn't care about the characters, and I just wanted to be done with the book, honestly. The tone and atmosphere of the story surrounding the spooky parts was good, but we only got brief moments of that and it wasn't enough to carry this book.
Overall, really interesting idea and the author is clearly talented, we just needed to get to the meat & potatoes of the book a lot sooner.

This will definitely be a book that I think of far down the line. It’s not an easy book even thought it might seem that from the synopsis. I think I thought it would be and then it very certainly wasn’t. I think I knew that it would be a book that has more than what meets the eye – but I don’t think I was expecting all of this.

The book certainly went above and beyond my expectations. I enjoyed the ride and was solidly in the book a ton. I really like friendship groups and I think all girls are always interesting (I have an older sister, we both went to the same all-girls school so for the most part most of our friends are girls) – there’s so many ways that it can go. I liked this friendship group, I think they worked well together and even though they had their issues (as with any friendship group), they ultimately were there for each other. I really liked that – they chose to stick with each other and be there for each other.

Nell was definitely my favourite character. I liked that we were in her head, she was a good narrator and took us along the journey, allowing us to discover things through her. Which I like! Sometimes I prefer to figure out the mystery before the characters and other times I like when the characters and I are in the dark together. I didn’t like Dia and Harper at the start – there were things that they did or things that happened and I wasn’t exactly there for it. Luckily they improved and I ended up liking them.

I did want more of Harry but also I understood why they didn’t focus on him more. But I like how they tied him in at the end. I was annoyed that Harper (his sister) got annoyed at him often and I kept saying “Harper, he’s being a good brother!” I think I’m getting old but also like… trust your siblings, I feel? Especially if they’re good like Harry.

I liked Tris from when we met her. I think it was a good idea to add her – both as a character and a love interest. I had hoped she would be a good addition and not just simply there (to add another character, I mean), so I was glad to see that wasn’t the case. Gavin and Christopher however, I could and would throw both into the lake and not think twice of them. I instantly knew I’d dislike them and then it became even clearer (basically by their first scene). What boys/men think they can get away with just because they want to… will never cease to make me angry.

The plot and pacing go hand-in-hand together. It’s a slow pace and it very much could’ve not been handled well but it did. That’s credit to the author because sometimes a medium or even fast paced book can feel slow. I know with another book I’d easily be less interested or even dnf because the pacing is so slow and the plot is taking forever to show (and it’s not even that long) but here it works. That’s all due to the characters. They’re well-written, fleshed out. Their differences work well both against each other and together when they need to. Could the author have introduced the witches earlier? Yes, but I’m actually glad that she didn’t! It allowed me to get to know their personalities, how they interacted with each other.

So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky is a gripping, atmospheric novel that masterfully blends horror, feminism, and the resilience of female friendship. With its queer, feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, this book offers a refreshing and powerful take on the genre, making it a must-read for fans of She Is a Haunting and those who crave stories of empowerment and survival.

Plot and Setting:
The story centers on Nell, a high school senior, and her friends as they embark on what they hope will be a dream spring break at a vacation house on a private Florida island. However, the island’s tragic history and Nell’s own secrets collide, unleashing a toxic, vengeful mist and a mysterious, devouring beast in the surrounding waters. The plot is compelling, with the island’s eerie atmosphere adding a layer of suspense that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

Characters and Themes:
Nell is a well-developed protagonist whose internal struggles and bravery drive the narrative. Her journey is not just about surviving the island’s curse but also confronting her past traumas and the shadow that has haunted her since childhood. The theme of female rage is poignantly explored, as Nell and her friends face their own secrets and the collective horror of their situation. The book does a commendable job of highlighting the strength found in female friendship and solidarity, even in the face of unimaginable terror.

Writing and Style:
Baguchinsky’s writing is vivid and evocative, painting a chilling picture of the island and the supernatural elements at play. The narrative seamlessly weaves together horror with the emotional aftermath of surviving assault, creating a story that is both thrilling and deeply moving. The pacing is generally well-maintained, although there are moments where the plot’s intensity dips slightly before picking up again.

Queer Representation:
One of the standout aspects of So Witches We Became is its diverse and queer representation. The characters’ identities are woven naturally into the story, enriching the narrative without feeling forced. This inclusivity adds depth to the characters and broadens the novel’s appeal.

Critique:
While So Witches We Became is a captivating read, it occasionally struggles with balancing its multiple plot threads. Some of the secondary characters’ backstories and secrets could have been explored more thoroughly to enhance the overall impact. Additionally, the climax, though satisfying, felt a bit rushed, leaving a few questions unanswered.

Conclusion:
Overall, So Witches We Became is a powerful, feminist horror novel that stands out for its unique take on the genre and its strong, multidimensional characters. Jill Baguchinsky delivers a story that is both terrifying and empowering, making it a notable addition to contemporary YA horror. With its themes of resilience, friendship, and the fight against inner and outer demons, this book earns a well-deserved four stars.

So Witches We Became is a fast-paced YA queer horror that will have you rethink going to a vacation house with friends. This book deals with themes of feminine rage, friendship, and mental health, but it will have you returning for more.

The story has a slow beginning that builds the tension, and I wondered where the horror element will make an appearance. I was pleasantly surprised by how the author delivered the twist, and after one specific chapter, I couldn't put the book down. I like the flashbacks which give the reader extra insight into the characters. The mystery element of the island and the supposed curse kept me guessing and the sense of satisfaction I had once the title made sense was amazing. It's so rewarding! There is more to the story than the ghosts, curses, and creepy island. Heavier topics are dealt with that explore the level of friendship and how far people are willing to go for the ones they care about.

- YA Horror
- Vacation house
- Curses
- Witches
- Queer
- Friendship
- Music
- Writing horror stories

I recommend this book to readers who like spooky, YA horror, but please read the TW's as some may be triggering to readers.

So Witches We Became is a fast paced read and a great read for teenagers! It's the type of book that will inspire them to look deeper at themselves and the world! This queer horror was haunting, spooky, thrilling and at times gruesome! And the setting definitely adds to these feelings! The Island is not just a place it's also a character in the book and a character that wants nothing but revenge! Great read! Thank you Tbr and Beyond Tours, Jill Baguchinsky and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this book with me!

A haunting mixture of supernatural and all too real demons, this novel of female rage and empowerment challenges the idea that trauma is an individual experience and opens up the conversation about healing from our pasts. I loved the mysterious setting, the strong characters, and the dark themes. What a mesmerizing story!

Thank you to NetGalley and TBR & Beyond Tours for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I loved this!
From our first meeting with Nell and her shadows, I was completely sucked in. I loved most of the characters, besides the ones were not meant to like. I'm looking at you, Gavin, and Christopher... I did have some issues with Harper, but the way the friendships were felt very real. I loved Harry and Tris. Nell and Tris's budding romance was super adorable and I totally ship them!! The creep factor vibes were absolutely there through the beginning and first part of the middle. It did slow down a bit after that when everyone realized they were stuck on the island and trying to figure out how they were going to survive long enough to hopefully be rescued.
Towards the end, I think the tension builds nicely as the puzzle pieces are finally put together girls figure out what's happening. The story is pretty fast-paced and that combined with the story itself made it very easy to get sucked in a fly through it.
I loved how it ended, and I will absolutely be checking out this author's other works, and whatever she is going to write in the future.

So Witches We Became is a curled snarl of a book. This is the type of book that seethes with rage and breaks your heart.

It is no secret that I adore a good horror book and Jill Baguchinsky delivers the goods in this no holds barred YA horror that delivers spine-chilling thrills and an unleashed power in both rage and letting your voice be heard.

This is not a book that holds back, it pulls power from its deep-seated anger. I love books that unapologetically let their fury fly, particularly when it’s connected to important conversations and the type of emotion that consumes you entirely. This is definitely one where I would recommend reading the content warnings ahead of reading, as it deals with rape culture, abuse, sexual assault, rape and victim blaming as primary topics. These are dealt with sensitively and with a clear sense of nuance at the difficulty of these conversation, particularly within a patriarchal society. Characters have tricky conversations on page that tackle their own complicity and having to face their trauma. However, it is also very much a narrative around reclaiming your own narrative and power. Both are given equal weight and I think that chimes strongly with the ultimate message of allowing survivors to find their own path. It is their story and they should have control over what happens next. Forcing any judgement or recommended path upon them reduces their agency further than it has already been stolen from them. This is an impactful message and shines particularly in that balance between power and rage, it finely achieved by Baguchinsky and should be commended. Within this rage, there is a warning of letting it consume you entirely. It picks apart the idea of justice and vigilantism, questioning where exactly that line sits. There is a lot to unpack within these pages, but Baguchinsky always allow time to breathe and digest these revelations in a way that gives both characters and readers grace.

The opening sequence of this book is chilling. It immediately puts you on edge and gives you a good sense of some of the supernatural scares that may come into the book. Overall, the horror contains a great mystery and a brilliant use of atmosphere to amplify the tension. The setting is an isolated and intriguing one, with its own mythology and mystery around it. So, once the chaos starts, you are primed for an oncoming storm of death and destruction. There is certainly some bloodshed and brutality here, but it is also constantly questioning who the true monsters in the narrative are. It is a familiar narrative, but infused with heart due to the excellent characterisation. Nell is a brilliant protagonist and instantly draws you in. She’s likeable but complicated, haunted by fears and secrets. Around her is a tight friendship group, but there may be more than a few cracks beneath a seemingly easy exterior.

Also, while it is very much not the primary focus of the book, there is a gorgeous queer romance thread throughout the book. This is one that brought a smile to my face with great chemistry and dialogue, which naturally built between the two characters. It is of course amplified by the horrific circumstances unfolding around them and complicated by the truths they are not sharing with one another. Ultimately it provides some light and hope for the future amongst the darkness, giving an example of continuing to live for yourself and taking control of your own narrative. It is a hard won victory though and definitely shown to contain struggles to come as well.

So Witches We Became is the kind of horror that haunts your dreams—brimming with a poignant fury that settles under your skin.

The Mist but make it a story about female rage and teaching boys that there are consequences to their actions. Nell and her friends decide to go on a trip for their senior year of high school, it was just suppose to be the three girls and one of their brothers on a private island for the perfect spring break. Nell has a secret though... a secret that mixes in with the island's tragic history... and creates a vengeful mist that will devour people. Nell has been going through a lot and when a certain uninvited boy and his friend crash the vacation trip... Nell's trauma is awakened and so is the monster within in. Her already fragile friend group will have to see if they can endure Nell's secrets and what truly happened to her as they try to also escape the island in one piece. This was a quick and easy read but it definitely deals with sexual assault and heavier topics. Nell is going through a lot and just trying to keep her friends together while also just surviving the incident that traumatized her. Yet when the sole cause of her trauma appears before... maybe it's time to get even and time to show him that "boys just being boys" is not an excuse and that there will be hell to pay. This was an easy read and I think if you enjoy horror with a bit of heart and some female rage, I'd definitely recommend it for you. It felt a bit like The Mist mixed in with The Craft!

Release Date: July 23,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Natural disasters are terrifying, but not as terrifying as sexual predators. This is a book with speculative elements, yes, and a fair amount of fear. At its heart, though, it's about trauma and now it warps and changes you. It's about human predators who often get away with their crimes. It's about retribution. I, very much, enjoyed my read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of So Witches We Became.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me as I could not get into the storyline. The pacing was a bit slow for me.

When I read that So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky was "a young-adult feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist," I made this novel must-read and while not too similar to The Mist, the story carves it's own path of power feminist queer horror that had us quickly turning the page to find out what happens next.

For high school senior Nell and her friends, a vacation house on a private Florida island sounds like the makings of a dream spring break. But Nell brings secrets with her—secrets that fuse with the island's tragic history, trapping them all with a curse that surrounds the island in a toxic, vengeful mist and the surrounding waters with an unseen, devouring beast.

Getting out alive means risking her friendships, her sanity, and even her own life. In order to save herself and her friends, Nell will have to face memories she'd rather leave behind, reveal the horrific truth behind the encounter that changed her life one year ago, and face the shadow that's haunted her since childhood. Easier said than done. But when Nell's friends reveal that they each brought secrets of their own, a solution even more dangerous than the curse begins to take shape.

Jill Baguchinsky's writing is skillful and descriptive, she paints vivid pictures of the terror and suspense. While very spooky and eerie at times, the author does a wonderful job at creating a horror novel for young adults that doesn't go too far over-the-top. The novel was not too scary of heavy on the horror side of things, but added just the right amount of fright to give it the edge it needed. Baguchinsky balanced a great queer feminist story with horror elements to give us a complete and well crafted novel.

So Witches We Became has some pretty amazing characters that are well-developed and relatable, even for a heterosexual male reader, each carry their own secrets and motivations to add layers to the story. Whether these characters are longtime friends or new acquaintances, Baguchinsky skillfully interred them into the story with just the right amount of backstory and traits. The diverse representation and queer characters are authentically portrayed adding depth to their experiences within the narrative.

While a horror novel at its core, So Witches We Became does not shy away from exploring deep emotions, complex relationships, and feminism. Additionally, the novel delves into the psychological impact of trauma while also keeping us on edge with its eerie atmosphere and supernatural elements. Baguchinsky strikes a perfect balance between the spooky moments and the deeper story.

The duel timelines were easy to follow. I found myself wanting to stay in the current timeline, but the past was needed to complete the entire story and get us caught up. Using a timeline from the past the slowly inches closer to current timeline was a great effect and kept us engaged.

So Witches We Became is not only a great horror story but is a powerful and engaging story that captivated us from the very first page. Author Jill Baguchinsky has crafted a great tale with complex characters, chilling imagery, and thought-provoking themes that is great for anyones bookshelf from young-adult to full-blown adult. This horror story was a pleasant surprise.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I adored So Witches We Became. I recommend it for fans of feminist books, queer characters, and horror.

This book is described as a queer, feminist retelling of "The Mist" and while it definitely hit the marks for queer and feminist, I didn't see too much in common with the mist aside from there being a mysterious mist.

It's told in dual timelines, one with the present and the other starting 12 years ago and creeping closer to the present- all the time alluding to a secret that has become a catalyst in a way for much of what is happening on the island. It was spooky and eerie at times, but not too scary or heavy on the horror. I found it a little slow at times.

At the end of the day, to me it was a book about the secrets we've all kept (and the damage it can do to you) about the person(s) who made us feel uncomfortable, acted inappropriately, or done more and gotten away with it. About taking back power, standing up for yourself, and believing people.

I am a HUGE fan of angry women - add in queer, creepy inaccessible to everyone island, haunting legends? UM YES!
Spring break on an isolated island rich with local lore. Three young women, best friends for years yet tenuous as high school graduation looms.
Nell has a shadow friend. And a massive crush on the owner's queer daughter. Harper is in an abusive relationship. Dia is in love with Harry, Harper's older brother.
As they battle against a rising tide of mysterious substance determined to consume the entire island, including the inhabitants, this group of friends discover they have so much in common. And a massive amount of swallowed rage.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for a digital ARC to review.

I was intrigued by the blurb's promises of revenge, horror, and a "feminist take on The Mist." What I got was... not that.

I feel like mist is the only thing this book has in common with The Mist. I was hoping for more of a creature-feature, final-girl, assault-revenge genre fiction story, but sadly that's not what I got. I found it surprisingly tame, but perhaps that's because I'm an adult reading a horror novel aimed at teens. Although I have read YA books that were quite violent and brutal.

This book would have benefitted from a dual perspective/timeline to explain the island's history. It was instead a lot of telling, not a lot of showing.

There were certainly parts of this book that I enjoyed -- like the "bad guy" getting his comeuppance, the eerie scenes with the encroaching mist, and rallying together to fight a common enemy.

I think I would have loved this book when I was a teenager, but as an adult who has read her fair share of adult horror, So Witches We Became fell a bit short of what it promised.

A decent addition to the genre of queer, feminist, YA horror. There were places where I felt the plot could have been a little bit tighter: Baguchinsky does a great job setting up a scene to scare you, and there were some moments I found genuinely spooky, but the mystery of what’s going on here feels hastily slapped together at times, with not enough groundwork laid to keep it all from feeling convenient. A good example of this is that, in spite of its title, witches don’t really get brought up in a meaningful way until 65% through the book (and, yes, there are literal witches involved in the puzzle of what’s going on on this island), and when they do, it feels like an infodump. I liked that the main character, Nell, felt like she had a lot of realistic layers (she’s a horror aficionado, but also a musician, an aspiring writer, and the overprepared “mom friend” of the group), and thought there were some good conversations about female rage, female unity, and the toll that living every day under rape culture can have on a person. The last ten percent of the book, where these conversations begin to take place in earnest among Nell and her friends, was more emotionally affecting than I was expecting. The sapphic love story felt very authentic if a little rushed, though I appreciated that it took a back seat to the drama happening on the island with the spooky mist trapping the teenagers there. Recommended for fans of Courtney Summers and Erica Waters.

Spring Break Nightmare

Jill Baguchinsky's "So Witches We Became" takes a seemingly idyllic spring break on a secluded island and transforms it into a terrifying fight for survival. Nell, burdened by a past trauma, arrives with her friends, unaware that the island holds a dark secret intertwined with her own. As a strange mist descends, trapping them and unleashing unseen horrors, Nell must confront her buried demons to break the curse.

Beyond the Beach Read

This novel goes beyond a typical beach read. While the premise offers classic horror elements, it delves deeper into themes of female empowerment and the lasting impact of trauma. Nell's struggle to overcome a past assault is central to the story, adding a layer of emotional depth. The diverse group of friends, each with their own hidden burdens, adds complexity to the narrative.

Horror with Heart

Similar to Stephen King's "The Mist," the story creates a chilling atmosphere with a sense of isolation and a looming threat. However, "So Witches We Became" injects a strong feminist undercurrent. The solution to the island's curse lies not in brute force, but in the power of female friendship and the courage to confront personal darkness.

Things to Consider

The horror elements might be a bit too intense for some younger readers, particularly those sensitive to themes of assault. While the synopsis mentions a "queer romance," the details are unclear from this description.

A Must-Read for Horror Fans Who Crave More

"So Witches We Became" is a chilling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of YA horror with a feminist twist. The compelling characters, the exploration of trauma, and the focus on female power make this a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

This was a powerful and cathartic display of working through trauma and repairing relationships, with a very satisfying dose of justice in the end. The magic system and lore was vague enough that it didn't center itself and take away from the very non-magical, human strengths and power that triumphed, instead representing and amplifying them.