Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 /5 (Rounded up to 4)
# Pages: 210
Publication Day: 12.15.25

🧟‍♀️ YA High Fantasy
🧟‍♀️ Sapphic
🧟‍♀️ LGBTQ+ Rep
🧟‍♀️ Zombies (Cadaveri)
🧟‍♀️ Child Soldier
🧟‍♀️ Disability Rep
🧟‍♀️ Witchy

The Hollow Witch by Mary Borsellino is a YA high fantasy sapphic novel. The world building/ character building is beautiful. However, there’s definitely dark and eerie elements in there too. I wish it could have been a little longer because some of it did fall flat. It’s a great start though and I think it could flow into a series. It was slow in the beginning but picked up and became a page tuner. A very unique story and worth the read.

Silvia (child soldier) and Azura (alchemist daughter), FMCs, have different backgrounds with their upbringing. However, they’re drawn to each other and thus their story begins. I enjoyed reading about their interactions. Their love story, very slow burn, is more of a sub plot feel.

Overall, it was a great short read. I would like to read more from the author and watch her grow within her writing. Thank you netgalley and Clan Destine Press for this ARC read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clan Destine Press, Inc. for allowing me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I agree with other reviews in that this book feels like a draft rather than a finished story. I feel the author wasn't sure of the tone of the book, that they wanted to address so many things that none were explored that in-depth. I do think this story had potential. There are some really good points, some quotes I really liked, but overall I feel the text felt a little bit disjointed. Like everything was silly antics and the next this dramatic talk and the next silly again and then traumatic, but it felt kind of episodic and the important issues weren't properly addressed.

There's this ongoing theme in the book of Azura feeling kind of left out because of her sheltered life and feeling bad about caring about these things that seem so little in comparison with what everyone else was dealing with and I both liked it and didn't. On the one hand I feel this reflects our society, how we know the horrible stuff that's going on and then feel stupid that we care about failing a subject or a silly fight. But on the other hand I felt like most of the time she complained just because she could (?). Like check your privilege. Half of the time I couldn't stand her for it because the dead were literally rising and she was like "My life is solved but I don't wanna follow my father's footsteps :(". Like she felt so sorry for herself all of the time it was tiring. But I mean that's realistic, she's a teenager after all, a rich one.

She complains a couple of times about her dad fixing her vision because she didn't need any fixing. And I was there like :/ I've worn glasses since I was little. They're expensive as fuck. Every time I get my vision checked it got worse, so I need new ones. And then we have to think about money again. You see I don't see shit and if I were offered to have my eyesight fixed magically (and for free) I'd jump at the chance. I guess the author wanted to make a point about disability not needing fixing because you're not broken, but this didn't feel like it. It didn't sit right with me. That and Azura being so powerful and so "I don't really like magic" but then using it for everything made me feel like Azura was just a spoiled brat and I couldn't really empathise with her. I feel like I would have liked the book better if it was only told from Silvie's perspective.

I don't like how they handled Lena's abuse either. Like it was revealed in the end (even though it was obvious from the start) and Azura was like it's okay, you're gonna be okay and then the book is over.

Overall there were so many things worth exploring in this book and even though it felt so long they weren't explored and the author chose to focus on the romance instead.

The world building for this book was excellent, and as someone with disabilities similar to those of Silvie, I was very grateful for the accurate representation. The diversity of the characters was a huge plus.
I will say that there were serious pacing issues with the book. By the time I was half way through the book I was wondering if I would have to DNF. I found that there were many times where the world building lore overshadowed the characters and the plot of the actual story. Other than Silvie, most of the other characters felt very flat- and I found myself getting very annoyed with Azura and her teenage angst. I love a character driven novel, but I felt like the plot got lost along the way.

Overall the premise is amazing and I am certain that the book would make more sense in connection with the rest of the series, but the pacing issues were too glaring for me to properly enjoy the story.

I am always excited to see a sapphic fantasy written by and Australian author.

The story follows Sylvie who is an orphan tasked with defending the kingdom from zombie like cadevari. She has lost her magic, been physically injured, and has been assigned as an assistant to an alchemist. In her new role she meet’s the Alchemist’s daughter, Azura, the Dowager Queen, Lena and her Body guard Myles. With the cadevari creating and increasing threat, pressures of expectation in the court, Sylvie and Lena work to identify the threat and try to find a way to belong under the weight of expectations.

I found the pacing a bit slow to start with, but once I reached the critical point, it really took off! What I initially expected to be a high fantasy had a much larger horror and mystery element than I expected, with a very sweet romance woven into it as well.

This could very easily be a series! This was a nice quick read and I will definitely be looking for Mary Boresellino books in the future!

An easy, enjoyable YA fantasy.
I liked the magic system and both our FMCs, the romance was sweet and slow and not central to the plot. I feel like it could have been longer: the introduction to Silvie and her magic was so swift that it was impossible to really understand what it was she was fighting for and what it was she lost, I think a deeper exploration of her life as a sentry and relationship with Kolya would have made the next part of the story as gut wrenching for the reader as her. It also felt like the pacing was slow and steady up until the last 30 pages where everything happened very quickly. The ending wasn’t *not* satisfying but felt quite abrupt.

A child soldier losing magic and then there's the alchemist's daughter, has everything she could ever need. Both couldn't have been any more different but when they must come together. The city of Arteria is under attack from the walking dead feeding on the living.

This book was very unique, and once in the story I was fully immersed.

Thank you to Clan Destine Press and NetGalley for this E-ARC.

This has great potential, but couldn't quite decide what it was. We begin by being launched into an exciting and complex world, with a compelling character and plenty of action. Then the following 60% of the book is a cosy slice-of-life fantasy. It's... perfectly nice. There are hints at deeper political and magical issues, but they are never developed. Then the final 20% is dark, explosive action. And it's brilliant - well-characterised, compelling writing, great plot. It just felt like it didn't match the tone of the rest of the book.

Overall, this felt like a 'nearly but not quite' novel.

Fresh, new concept ... about the rotting undead.

*Received an ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review*

There was promise for this story, but the execution lacked punch and dragged despite a tiny <300 page count. This read like a second or third draft, and perhaps a few more were needed to fine tune details and get the rhythm perfected.

Disability and queer rep was good, but fell short on paying off on the emotional impact of the reveal that one of the main characters was being sexually abused since age 2.

The ending shot itself in the foot by leaving the story without ending any character arcs or really progressing the characters developments. Who they all were at the start is who they were at the end. The shock reveal that the old queens spirit had been tagging along on Silvie's shoulder the entire time came out of no where and felt like a shoe in for a sequel. From about 40-80% of the way through it was rating about 4 Stars, but the shocking twist coming at like 7% from the end didn't leave enough time for it to sink in and actually shock and really brought down the overall quality of the book.

Considering how dark the material was in terms of child abuse, systematic violence against certain caste's, and severe social divides, it lacked in thoroughly exploring it and emotionally connecting the reader to those issues, there were some really horrific ideas (in a good way) but it felt like reading from a history book.

I did love the little cadaveri girl in the glass coffin, that was really well executed, had me turning on the lights to reassure me she wasn't in the room with me. Fabulous! She gets an extra star for the horror of it!

The Hollow Witch is a high fantasy sapphic story that shares the prices that come with using magic. The following is a spoiler-free review with a final rating of 3.75.

The world in which Sylvie, a sentry raised to defend the people from the forces of evil, is plagued by a cost to using magic. The dead arise, bringing chaos and disaster with them. After almost losing her life, Sylvie is left with a permanent disability and the loss of her magic. Azura, the daughter of Arteria’s alchemist, has grown up in the palace, friends with the little queen herself, and used the daily use of magic.

Sylvie is sent to the palace to assist Azura’s father in his work, which means a new life for the soldier, a new world and a lot of new adjustments; her cane for one. Whilst there, she strikes up a friendship with Azura, the queen Lena and her bodyguard Myles. The story cumulates with an unprecedented attack that only Sylvie and Azura can save, yet they begin to question; should they?
This story was solid. It wasn’t perfect but it wasn’t bad. The writing itself was well done, things were explained easily and nothing got too complicated, even when it seemed it should be. The descriptions were beautiful also and easily visualised.

Sylvie and Azura weren’t truly loveable characters, yet I believe that to have been kind of the point. They’re flaws. Sylvie is too stubborn and ruthless and is unable to let go of the past. Azura, on the other hand, is used to the life of luxury, she defies her father and doesn’t truly understand the hardships of life outside the palace. Throughout they do learn, and they grow, and I liked seeing that. I wasn’t in love with their relationship as it did seem to go from acquaintances to romantic quite quickly like they had one nice chat on the roof and suddenly they were kissing and dating. I would have liked more time to see them develop their friendship and understand each other a little more before starting a romantic relationship. Their scenes, however, were very sweet.

It was interesting, with the take on having to pay a price for magic and the fact high uppers will ignore the threat just to make life easier and the nation a little bit more powerful. The sentries and soldiers were also a way to get rid of the changelings and foundlings, aka the dregs of society. This side was an interesting commentary on the world we live in.

I enjoyed the ending, the climax felt like it came all too quickly though, with much of the story feeling slow with no endgame. For me, it got more interesting around 70%. It did leave a lot of open questions, such as Azura’s father and that last line, yet perhaps it's opening up for a sequel or novella.

Overall, it was a good book. Interesting story and characters with brilliant world-building.

The strengths of this novel are the diversity and immersive world-building. With not only queer women, but a chronically ill and hard of hearing character is amazing representation and I'm very glad that more people will be able to see themselves represented in this book. The magic system was compelling and fascinating, with the question of sacrificing something for magic being asked throughout. I found Silvie really likable as a character and I was thoroughly invested in her story and how it progressed. Unfortunately, I couldn't find myself as invested in the other characters and they fell a bit flat for me. Overall though, this book had a very unique premise and the world-building was fantastic.

If you want a book that honestly had me thinking where is this going to oh wow that happened, this is definitely a hidden gem for you this year.

Firstly let me thank NetGalley / publishers/ Mary Borsellino for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

The hollow witch, follows Silvie a sentrie who after one unfortunate event rips her from her magical able self into a person forever physically changed to her reclaimed un-magical life. Maybe death would have better but she is sent to Arteria to be a doctor’s apprentice. There we meet three more central characters, Azura the doctor’s daughter who will not follow her father’s path, Lana the child windowed queen and Myles her protector / servant.

This is high fantasy with some fantastic world building, that is as beautiful as it is chilling. The magic is built within individuals but also channelling through the area which brings a twist of death via countless members of the undead. This is a great twist on zombie plot. You intertwine with each character with a threat in the background but is not walking dead style more contained unless somebody does generally dies - there is a creepy glass coffin moment that would be a jump scare scene!

I will say the story does feel slow but this does help cement the story with the world building along with the characters development. This followed with a twist that honestly happens around the 90% mark, yes I would have liked this sooner. But the twist is so masterful I can forgive this, horrific really when you read this in blissfully ignorance looking back. You realise quite quickly you are lead via a level of naivety at the same time Azura comes to realise.

The rage, anger and pain is felt all in the last 10% with a real sense of the loss of innocence and reality of Silvia being the one realise what needs to happen next. There is a soft budding romance between Silvie and Azura that literally starts and then this happens. A gentleness that is ripped from the page quite literally.

The story ends quite abruptly, I am hoping for a book 2 as there is so much more left unanswered and genuinely intrigued at how this is going to play out next for them! Would highly recommend, this would be a 4.5 only knocked down for pace.

Great read would highly recommend.

First of all: Thank you to Mary Borsellino and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I usually have a hard time with slow-paced books, and *The Hollow Witch* definitely tested my patience in the beginning. The world-building was detailed, and the magic system had some interesting concepts, but it took a long time for the story to really get going. Once it picked up (which unfortunately wasn’t the case until like 85% in) I found myself more engaged, especially with the character dynamics and the way themes of power and disability were explored.

Silvie and Azura had an intriguing relationship, and while I appreciated how the book took its time developing their interactions, there were stretches where the plot felt bogged down by dialogue and setup, making it difficult to stay fully invested. The zombie element was a unique twist I didn’t see coming, though I wish it had been more central earlier in the story..

Overall, this was a solid read with some great ideas, but the pacing and execution didn’t fully work for me. Fans of slower, character-driven fantasy will likely enjoy it more, but I’m on the fence about continuing the series.

Review Release: 2/2/25
Review Platform: Goodreads/Amazon
Review: As slow paced as it was, it was actually a pretty good book. I love how everything unfolded and the development of the characters throughout the story. I am keen to see what Borsellino brings with the continuation of the story.

Thank you to Mary Borsellino and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Story started off slow but then picked up and I found I couldn’t put it down! Interesting magic system, good world building and a surprise villain.

Deeply enjoyable, this rich romantic fantasy paints a stunningly vibrant world full of fascinating characters, particularly its two protagonists. Seeing their relationship develop over the course of the story was deeply enjoyable, and really did a great job keeping me engaged! Overall, a solid novel, and one that makes me excited to see what this author has in store next! Thank you to NetGalley and Clan Destine Press for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. It was at about the 50% mark that I became bored and not until about 90% in did things pick back up for me. I liked the characters and the plot but the way some of the mechanics of the world were explained either did not make logical sense or needed more explanation. There were a couple things that did not seem necessary, almost like they were added because the author thought it would be cool and had no other reason for it. I have no real gripes with this book, I absolutely see many people reading and loving this. I unfortunately will not be continuing in this series.

Thank you to Mary Borsellino and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely sapphic fantasy story with a zombie twist. It had an interesting magic system with good world building. A slow start but a very solid book overall.

"The Hollow Witch'' was an enjoyable book to read.
I really liked the way the characters were portrayed, they have their own backgrounds which are quite individual. I also liked reading how they acted together, even though they were so unlike each other!
It was nice to read Azura's and Silvie's POV's, two girls who see the world in such different ways.
I also found it interesting to read how Silvie dealt with her sudden loss of hearing and magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-Arc of this interesting book.

I like to go into e-arc’s semi blind to give myself the best experience and for this book I think it was the best thing I could do.

A sapphic witch story with Zombies? That was an interesting but nice surprise.

Story started off slow but then picked up and I found I couldn’t put it down! Dealt with some hard topics which I would suggest reading trigger warnings for.

Overall a good sapphic fantasy that was shorter than I anticipated but had a good time reading and will look at what else this author has wrote.

Zombie high fantasy
Silvie is a poor foundling who served as a magical sentry - travelling in a wolf‘s mind to fight against the cadaveri - until she total burns out when her wolf dies. No magic, deaf on one ear and with serious vertigo she is called to serve the royal alchemist in the main capital Arteria. There she meets well-to-do, contrary Azura, the magically gifted daughter of the alchemist, and the child-queen Lena. We get to know the intricate setting and the capital. Arteria very much resembles Venice, the lagoon, the canals, the palazzo and certainly the opulent flaunting of wealth.
Borsellino slowly introduces us into the world: where Silvie, Azura, Lena and her guard are on very different sides when it comes to their station in life. I started to wait for the other shoe to drop when we slowly get an idea that all the wealth covers a rot which goes to the core of this world. At last it all erupts …
The world-building is excellent. I esp. liked the idea of the cadaveri / zombies balancing the exploitation of magic. Borsellino outdid herself when describing the effects of Silvie‘s disability and weaving them continuously into the story. There is a very slow burn f/f romance mixed into the story. Although interesting it takes some time for the underlying tension to come forth, but I very much enjoyed the nuanced writing and the great descriptions.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.