This book sounded like a great mashup of Sabrina, Discovery of witches and shades of magic. But it felt like exactly that. The main character was a little annoying and overly self involved. It was jumping povs a lot, which personally I was not enjoying for this book. I was not able to completely finish this book. Some people may love it but it was not for me.

I enjoyed the story. The narrative was well done. The characters were well written. It hit all the points for a great story. My attention was maintained the entire time. I LOVED it.

Witches and LGBTQ characters sign me up!

I loved this book. I loved the representation. If I had any complaint it is that there were too many viewpoints. One of the viewpoints completely fell off the face of the earth by the end of the story. However I will still recommend this book to YA readers.

Thank you to Netgalley for an earc of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Updated :

Say it with me... Queer 👏 Witches 👏 Mix that with Celtic mythology and my friends, we have a winner! @elatimerwrites has done what I’ve been begging for, for a long time. There was no dramatic coming out story (which don’t get me wrong, is great but has its time and place), there was no teenage drama that makes you cringe. Instead it was full of queerness, angst, and even tackles mental disorders! I applaud her so much and highly encourage you to pick this book up. (The audio is just as great if that’s your thing!)


Witches of ash and ruin is one of the best books I’ve read in 2020. From queer characters to witches; witch hunters to some gnarly rituals, this book is everything I needed and more. 

I’m even though it’s YA there was not an abundance of teenage drama which makes this book incredible! I loved the main character and her potential love interest. Enemies to lovers is always a favorite trope. 

Easy to read and will have you begging for more.

Witches of Ash and Ruin, by E. Latimer: I enjoyed reading this book overall. Dayna Walsh is a compelling main character, and I found the exploration of somatic OCD to be well-done. It's an important thing to bring to light and I'm glad it was handled with sensitivity.

This is a bewitching story, and I’m in love with all the characters. I love the way it was written, and getting inside different point of views...Bonus points for bisexual MC’s and showing mental illness.

Everyone get ready because I’m going to be throwing this book left and right at everyone!! Witches of Ash and Ruin was honestly everything that I wanted in a book about witches and ancient celtic mythology. No one tell American horror story : Coven but…this book gave me e v e r y t h i n g I’ve ever wanted in a story about a coven of witches. It was also the perfect mixture of murder mystery and spookiness!

I want to first talk about the overall spookiness level of this book – it was um how do you say, spooktacular! If you want a spooky October read this year absolutely add this to your TBR. Between The Butchers murders and the witchcraft/dark magic this book had the hairs on my arms standing a couple times. There was even one scene that had me looking over my shoulder while I was reading alone at night! I haven’t read anything that creeped me out in a very long time (or ever? I can’t remember) so for fans of mystery and spookiness I absolutely recommend this book! If it wasn’t for the current state of the world this would have been such a fast read for me regardless of how long this book actually is to be honest with you.

The characters!!!!!! Gosh I love them all so much…even Cora and The King Witch. The characters in this story are all refreshing and complexly their own person. Dayna my little sunflower witch she deserves so much *insert crying emoji* Meiner effing King…Where do I start with her?! what a freaking badass!! Daynas bestfriend Reagan- everyone needs a best friend like Reagan! I love that she was so -on her side- I’ve read so many books where the best friend is usually an annoying problem (which I absolutely hate that cause I would be nothing without my best friend) Cora Cora Cora all im going to say is – now thats a complex character. Bronagh, Yemi, Faye, Brenna – I love the family bond between all of them and regardless of being background characters they didn’t feel pushed to the side. Harriet mcfreaking King…wow what do I even say about her without giving too much away?! I love the notorious King Witch! All I’m going to say is she gives me the creeps and I love her. Then theres Sam who honestly I have no idea where his life is headed but I really hope he supports Dayna in her future endeavors or we’re gonna fight. and I can’t forget Daynas parents – The reverend and Fiona. I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about the revered but I know his whole ~church camp~ thing freaks me out it reminds me of those crazy church cult stories its hella freaky and Fiona is one of those people that I would not want to be alone in a house with she would probably silently stand behind me in the kitchen and give me a heart attack one I turn around. I really feel like the author took her time with these characters to make sure the reader could feel out each personality and really add depth to the story.

The Butcher – This is the horrible witch killing villain i’ve been waiting for. I felt like his chapters really added that ‘horror’ factor to this book. I don’t want to give away much but just know as a villain he’s cold, ruthless and terrifying!

Despite this book having about 75 chapters I really felt like it was well put together and the pace of this book was not slow for a second! 75 chapters of pure genius honestly. I didn’t have any issues with the writing style and I actually really liked the way it was done and how there was more than one point of view. (Meiner was probably my favorite just saying) This was a really fun read for me I had been looking for something mystery/horror related and the fact that witches were involved was just a plus! I’m finding it so difficult to express my love for this book without giving to much away so I’m just gonna tell you to pleaseeee read it!! my rating for this book is 4.5 out of 5 stars and it definitely left me wanting more! (book 2 please and thanks)

*4.5/5 stars

My god, this book. I knew I was going to like it - it was one of my most anticipated releases of the year - but MY GOD.

So, straight off the bat we have Irish witchy vibes, following multiple characters of the LGBTQ+ community (bisexual, lesbian), the main character living with OCD, and the angsty hate-to-love trope. Are you in yet? Because that's all I needed to know beforehand. And while that may sound like there's a lot going on, trust me when I say it works . 

Everything about this book just felt right. The witchy atmosphere was instantly believable, and one I fell into without a problem. If anything, I wanted more of it - just slightly more about the general small town community she lived in and its affect on her life. The severity of her secrets being revealed in this conservative town didn't quite reach the mark for me, though with most of the book spent in a separate area almost away from the town, it's easy to see why this might've happened. Still, I was drawn into this book entirely. It especially helped that the relations between characters were just so interesting, ranging from friendly banter and sarcasm, to angsty glares and protective covens. Without question, I wholeheartedly believed these characters were exactly as described, and couldn't help falling into their story.

And what a story it was. Magic and murder mystery? I'm sold. I adored the Celtic mythology ties to this whole gritty murder plot. I'll say right now, it's dark. It's bloody, there's mutilation involved, rituals and sacrifices and everything. But my god is it written well for that dark tone. There were moments where I felt genuine chills run down my spine, reading scenes that sounded like something from a horror movie. It's been a long time since a book pulled that reaction from me, let me tell you. But equally so, there's enough lightness and soft, family/friend scenes to pull the book out of being downright horrific, and it's that balance that toyed with my emotions and made me love the book. 

I feel like not enough people are talking about this, despite it being what so many people are looking for. So if you're reading this and like the sound of Celtic mythology, Irish witches, angsty relationships with the added sprinkling of bisexual and OCD rep, all I can say is READ THIS BOOK!

TW: self harm, OCD, panic attacks

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Book Group/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the advanced review copy.

Can we talk about how long I have been trying to finish this book? All I have wanted to do in recent weeks is stay home and get lost in this witchy world. Unfortunately, I’ve only really had time for audiobooks while working lately, but I am happy to report, with a couple of extra hours to read before work this morning, I have finished the book and am ready to share it’s awesomeness with you.

Seventeen year-old Dayna Walsh has OCD. Her father’s an overbearing preacher. Her unstable mother has been away at “camp” for as long as she can remember. Oh yeah, and she’s a bisexual witch dealing with homophobia in a small, religious town. Luckily, her coven serves as her chosen family, and she’ll ascend soon, which means she’ll be a fully-fledged member of the coven. Just when things are starting to look up, witches start getting murdered close to home, and a nearby coven, rumored to dabble in black magic, shows up to join forces and fight the evil force. Complicating things even more is Dayna’s growing attraction to Meiner King, granddaughter of the woman who left Dayna’s coven years ago when she was suspected of black magic. They’ll have to join forces to find the killer and set things right.

Despite my inability to finish it quickly, this book does move pretty rapidly. The constant POV change makes the chapters shorter, and left me wanting to read just one more. The mystery surrounding the murders is deeper than just a “who dunnit,” and I really enjoyed the budding romance between Dayna and Meiner. It wasn’t the center of the story, but it provided a nice subplot and further developed the relationships between the members of the two covens. I am 100% always here for queer witches.

I definitely recommend this one for your YA tbr. I enjoyed reading it during the winter, but it would also be a welcome addition for Halloweenish reading. It’s not super scary, but the magic elements, especially the black magic ones and the mystery of the murders is the perfect setting for a fire place, some spooky lighting, and some hot tea with blankets. It’s out now, so definitely look it up at your favorite, local bookstore or library.

Witches of Ash and Ruin shows the strength of female friendships and found family through the main characters of Dayna and Meiner.  I'm often surprised that few fantasy books - YA and adult - incorporate Celtic/Irish mythology and history. As a result, Witches of Ash and Ruin weaves together dark contemporary story filled with magic, religious tensions, found families, murder, and misogyny.
Latimer writes these young women very empathetically. Both Dayna and Meiner have been neglected and harmed by their blood family, and their magic gives them the power to connect with individuals who chose to love and support them.
I really appreciated how being a witch doesn't guaranteed bravery and being perfect all the time. At one point in the story, Dayna is in danger and completely blanks on spells to perform. When talking to Meiner about the situation, Dayne blames herself for her fear and her panic, and how she feels like a "bad" witch because of it. Meiner reminds her that it's ok to be scared and that it's ok to ask for help. 
I absolutely loved how Latimer constructed the magic system in Witches of Ash and Ruin. To ascend to full witch-hood, Dayna must pick a god to pledge her magic to; as a result, the deity will give her strength and related power. Dayna picked Danu (the mother goddess associated with the land). A very cool way to learn about Celtic mythology without info dumping IMHO.
As the protagonist, I thought Dayna was really compelling; Latimer showed how difficult it is to live in a small conservative town and come to terms with one's identity and sexuality. Additionally, Dayna's father is the pastor of local church (the only part confusing to me: I read the events as occurring in Ireland, not Northern Ireland and I'm less familiar with Protestantism in the former) and wields a ton of power and influence among the locals. As a result, it's difficult for Dayna to find safe spaces outside of her coven. Latimer writes found families empathetically and lovingly. 
Lastly, fans of murder mysteries will definitely appreciate the darkness of the serial murders and the stunning revelation of why they're happening. I am usually a scaredy-cat but was on the edge of my seat trying to connect all the dots. 
I hope there is a sequel and I will definitely read it! 

Content Warnings:  Panic attacks, homophobia, murder, self-harm, child abuse, OCD, anxiety, mentions of rape/sexual assault

E. Latimer's Witches of Ash and Ruin tells the tale of 17-year old Dayna Walsh and those around her as a serial killer enters her peaceful small town of Carman, Ireland and creates chaos. Dayna is a witch and so is her friend Reagan who apparently has two mothers. Dayna is the daughter of a local reverend. She recently ended a relationship with Samuel after her sexuality was forcibly outed. On top of that, her absent mother Fiona returns looking worse than when she left and she struggles to also deal with OCD. 

To top that off, Dayna actually fears that her father will send her away to camp now that her secret has been revealed. I think the relationship between Dayna and her parents could have been sussed out more than it is. The Reverend is like a dark figure in the background who may or may not have his own secrets that could severely affect Dayna. Dayna spends most of her time with Reagan which seemingly doesn't bother the good reverend until something bad happens. Dana's coven mates are more supportive and more of a family than the Reverend or Fiona. 

Meanwhile, Meiner King, Grandma King, and Cora Whelan arrive in town to help Dayna's coven deal with the killer. Between Meiner & Cora, there's a power struggle over who will lead the coven after Grandma King dies. Grandma has been keeping some secrets. Secrets that play right into the killer's hands. Dayna and Meiner have a hate to love relationship when they first meet which slowly becomes a friendship and perhaps more. This novel is a dark, modern take on witches, blended with ancient Celtic mythology. 

One thing that may trip up some readers is all the points of view. There are five: Dayna, Meiner, Cora, Dubh, and Samuel. Samuel's was the perhaps the unnecessary one as he brought nothing to the story and disappears when most of the action takes place, Dubh's is the darkest for reasons you can figure out yourself. While Latimer takes time to build each character, the two characters that shine through the most are Dayna and Meiner. Both break hearts and infuriate in equal measure.  

Latimer does not shy away from the murders, and though there are a few disturbing/gory moments, it is never written in a “shock value” way. The story ends on a cliffhanger, which also isn't a good thing, especially since there's nothing to indicate that this was supposed to be part of a series. A note for publishers and authors. You should definitely tell interested readers whether or not this is a standalone or part of a series. You definitely lost a rating from me because of it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves witchy books. Not only is the cover gorgeous but the story inside is equally as stunning. This story was well-paced and the characters well fleshed out.

This book had a little but of everything! It was like witchcraft with some true crime mixed in. I also loved the authors contribution to help stop the stigma of mental health. It's rare that to see it done so well. For some reason I couldn't seem to connect well enough with the characters and that's why I didn't give it a five star review.

3/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the early review.

I went into this one really wanting to love it, but it just felt like there was a bit too much going on at once. Dayna is the daughter of a reverend in a church obsessed small town who happens to be bi-sexual and happens to be a witch. Her ex also happens to be obsessed with true crime and specifically a serial killed coined The Butcher. And he also happens to still be in love with her, and he betrayed her trust previously. Enter another coven with a member that practices Dark magic and was previously kicked out of Dayna's coven years before. Now make one of the coven members an attractive girl that Dayna is attracted to and make the other one a girl in unrequited love with that attractive girl. Now add some anxiety, murders, and some supernatural happens, good goddesses, bad goddesses, and you have this book. It just felt like I never fully connected with any of the characters and I felt like I got whiplash from the amount of stuff happening in this book. It was just a little too much for me.

In Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer, everything seems to be happening to Dayna at once. Someone at school told the whole town that she is bisexual, her mother is finally coming home from the church rehabilitation camp Dayna’s father sent her to years ago, the stress of everything is triggering her OCD, and another coven of witches has come to town – one headed by the witch Dayna’s own coven banished for performing dark magic. Beyond that personal chaos, a famous serial killer has started targeting witches in Dayna’s town, heralding the beginning of a cycle of murder and the return of an ancient evil. As the two covens are forced to work together, Dayna clashes with Meiner, presumptive heir to the other coven, growing every closer both to each other and to solving the mystery behind the murders.

Witches of Ash and Ruin was a quick, compelling read. Although technically a story about witches, gods, and murder, the weight given to Dayna’s personal life and the challenges inherent therein for a 17-year-old (homophobic father, absent mother, OCD) grounds the more fantastical elements of the story effectively, making Dayna and her world feel very real. She’s working towards ascending from a witchling to a full witch and joining her coven as a full member, but she’s also trying to maintain a friendship with her ex-boyfriend and keep her very religious, anti-witch father from finding out what she is up to and potentially sending her away. I enjoyed Dayna’s romance with Meiner, who interests and irritates Dayna in equal measure. The story is set in Ireland and touches on Irish mythology in interesting ways. The story is perfectly set up for a sequel or even an extended series, one that I hope will be coming soon.

My biggest gripe is why did this book have 5 povs? It didn't need 5, and it was frankly really annoying. I think I might have liked it if there were less povs, but as the book is, I just couldn't like it and really can't recommend it. I'm so glad I'm done reading it.

If the Witches of Ash and Ruin is any sign of what is to come in what I've dubbed the year of witches and vampires? It is going to be a very good year, indeed. 

Latimer has delivered a plot driven story filled with ancient gods, family secrets and black magic, rooted in Irish Mythology. Add the themes Latimer doesn't just bring to the table but explores without fear, but with thoughtfulness and honesty:

1) Sexual Identity
2) Mental Health 
3) Physical/Emotional Abuse
4) Homophobia
5) Weaponizing of religion

Never does the heaviness of these themes take away from a book boasting witches, gods, black magic and witch hunters. The magic system wasn't just ... here... witches. Latimer had her own spin on how their magic worked and provided an explanation The lines that separated black magic was especially well thought out and gave readers something to reflect on. It wasn't always so simple- black magic being evil. Doing what was stigmatized as wrong, deemed evil by the majority- could it sometimes be the only way to do what ultimately had to be done? 

There were somethings I could see coming, it was almost like Latimer set them up as false senses of security so that I would be doubly blindsided by those things I definitely DID NOT see coming. Without spoiling the ending, I will say this. I'm not sure of what to make about a lot of questions left unanswered and what may or may not have happened to a couple of characters? This isn't set-up (in the blurb or publisher given description) as a series. Yet it most certainly could-should-be? And yet I don't believe that it is? There is something way off in that regard. Otherwise everything is brilliantly done.

Take all the above, and it is not only within the plot but often it provides a depth to characters you normally don't find in more plot driven stories. There are six points of view that are well defined and have a unique voice. If I had one point to nitpick here (and it is a nitpick), it is that beyond the points of view, there were more characters that it took a bit to sort out. However, once I did, it was off to the races. Latimer pulls it all together a special finesse to her storytelling. 

Not only does it provide depth to the characters, but to the world-building. Her ability to suck readers into the serenity of the farmhouse groves that house the coven, to the grotesque scenery where horrors occur is stunning.  It is truly the utilization of these themes that provide identifying aspects for the world that inhabit the people, places and time in which the story takes place.

2.5 stars
Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I thought it was okay, I enjoyed some parts of the story because witches and magic are always appealing to me. But overall, I just didn't love the story or care about what was happening as much as I should have. There was so much going on and while some of the mysteries were interesting, I just ended up kind of confused. There were too many different things happening. Also, some of the mysteries that I wanted answers to didn't get fully addressed by the end. This just seemed weird especially for a book that currently doesn't appear to be the start of a series. I didn't enjoy being left hanging since that was one of the things I was actually interested in. Specifically, the mysteries around the main character Dayna. I wanted to know more about her and they built up a lot of questions throughout the story but didn't actually give enough answers. This was a little disappointing, there was potential but it just wasn't for me. Looking back now though, the description of the book says that it is for fans of V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series and The Discovery of Witches. I didn't like either of those books so part of this is definitely my own fault. It might just be a story that isn't for me because I do think a lot of other people might enjoy this.

This book had all the things I love: serial killers, inept country cops, religious fanatics, small-town politics, witches, lesbians, enemies to lovers, the list goes on. It was fast-paced and fun. The ancient Celtic mythology is made to feel real and alive. The powerfulness of Dayna's coven wasn't believable. There was almost no build-up and when the time came I didn't believe the hippie women shuffling cards was someone who could take on powerful gods. I also had a major dislike for the way tarot was used. 

Side note, this is clearly a series even though I can find no information for such. Either that or the reader is going to be left very frustrated with an open ending. I'm expecting more from Latimer and some of these characters.

Seventeen-year-old Dayna has recently been outed in the community as bisexual. Her coven is supportive, but her dad is the local reverend. When a serial killer resurfaces after a time of dormancy it quickly becomes apparent that The Butcher is targeting witches again. Soon a competing coven decides that they must go to Dayna’s small Irish town to defeat The Butcher.  But this coven is known for using black magic. It doesn’t take long before Dayna develops an interest in Meiner, one of the witches from the outsider coven. Can the covens come together to fight the evil forces that seek to destroy them?  Will Dayna and Meiner be able to pursue and keep a budding romance during this time of tumult? The story is told from the perspectives of five characters. Each perspective is necessary to build the story, but this can make it a little difficult to follow all the plot lines and the Celtic mythology. This story and its diverse host of characters will appeal to those who like dark fantasy and LGBQT+ stories.