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.

This was a great book featuring modern-day witches and how they band together to fight a common threat.

There were 6 POVs, and a lot of witches in the covens, so it took me a bit to get everyone straight (I would still forget the names of some of the witches). However, there was quite a bit of action which lulled briefly from time to time as the witches re-grouped and figured things out, but the story moved along at a nice pace.

I liked the Irish lore and the magic system, which was well-explained. The plot was interesting, and there was an element of suspense as we moved toward the inevitable confrontation.

I felt that the enemies-to-lovers part was a little forced and predictable. Also, there were times I got frustrated with the characters making dumb decisions, like if they had just used their cell phones to text or call each other with quick FYIs, or shared crucial info as they recieved it, it would have prevented a lot of the problems.

Overall, I enjoyed this story, and the ending sets up nicely for the next installment; I can't wait to see what happens next!

Loved the anxiety & LGBT+ rep, the fast paced plot, and the multiple POV's in this. I think they all worked so well together to create a gripping story that left me flying through the book to find out all the answers. I loved that each character all had little bits of information as to what was going on and I found all of the characters intriguing and likable enough to want to keep going and get back to their part. Sometimes multiple POV's can be difficult when you don't care for some of the characters but this was definitely not the case.

My main issue with this is that I would have had no idea this book took place in Ireland if it wasn't in the synopsis. It is obviously talked about later in the book, but the fact that there could have been so much atmosphere and world building to the story was definitely a disappointment. But overall, I did enjoy this book and will definitely be picking up the next installment!

Although I had a rough time with it in the beginning, I'm glad I stuck around to finish this.

I had a lot of difficulty getting into this one. There were a lot of POVs, and in the beginning (with the lack of knowledge) it was a bit confusing. It wasn't until about 20% or more into the book that it really clicked for me and I couldn't put the story down. But, once I had my head in the right place, I really enjoyed the connections the author made to Irish mythology, the bond the witches had, and the representations of so many important things from anxiety and OCD to queer relationships.

I'm usually a fan of multiple POVs, however, I think this one could have done without a couple and it would have went a lot smoother for me. The first two chapters are what really put me off; starting out with the POV of the villain could have been really interesting, but disconnected me from the story and its true main characters: the witches.

That being said, once it clicked for me, I got really into it! I loved the Irish lore and myths weaved into the plot and its characters. I think that's what made the story really strong as I kept reading.

One thing I didn't like was the enemies-to-lovers trope. It didn't really work for me, as I didn't really understand where the enemies "hatred" stemmed from. It seemed a little forced and obvious to me what was going to happen, unfortunately. However, I liked reading their relationship and their dynamic, I wish the enemies-to-lovers part had been pulled off a little smoother.

Another thing that could have used some work was the dialogue. At times, it felt unnatural and forced. Dialogue is usually the one thing I'm nit-picky about, and I thought it could have been stronger, especially with how intense the plot of the book is.

Overall, I really enjoyed this modern-day Irish with story and definitely hope to read more set in this world!

I had some difficulty with this one. The concept was what pulled me in. Plus, you see that killer cover and title? I was extremely hyped to read it and that may have been part of its undoing for me.

There were so many povs. Now, normally I don't mind that so long as I have had time to get to know our main characters intimately in earlier books, but this was the first book, so it was difficult to remember who was who and keep up with what was going on by jumping around so much. I never once felt connected to one of the characters.

The plot itself, well, I felt like nothing much really happened for a good chunk of the book, and when the twists did start being revealed, they really weren't all that earth-shattering. I kinda just rolled on with it like it was no big deal.

I'm not trying to say that this book was bad. It wasn't. It was a fairly enjoyable read, but again, I think I had set the bar way higher than it needed to be before jumping into this book. One of the the things I did really like was getting to know more celtic mythology. I am a huge fan of mythologies of all types and culture, so this has really got me looking to find more books based in it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I adore books about witches. It isn't a topic I grew up on, but one that is a recent obsession. Witches of Ash and Ruin has diversity (bisexual, anxiety, queer, black SC, and somatic OCD), questions about what we will do for power, and darkness spreads from page one. The stakes are high and deadly. Foreboding oozes from the first chapter and only increases as the mysteries keep unraveling. Witches of Ash and Ruin is almost constantly action mixing elements of serial murder, witch-killers, and the homophobia of the community - all equally terrifying.

Because of the multiple POVs, at the beginning I was struggling with getting a sense of each character. Witches of Ash and Ruin is definitely action driven - unlike some other stories which are almost exclusively character driven. Only based on Goodreads, I'm not sure if there is going to be a sequel, but that ending has some SERIOUS possibilities. That would actually make me re-consider my opinions of the book because seeing Witches of Ash and Ruin as more of a series opener means that all these POVs are setting the stage for more.

This was an incredibly fast-paced and action filled book that I just could not put down. The writing was clunky at times and certain scenes ended a bit abruptly, but that wasn't a huge hindrance to my enjoyment. I also found the characters to be very interesting, but hard to connect with. I wanted more info and more back story, but since this is supposed to be the first in a trilogy, I understand the author wanting to save some for future books. The true crime element was also promising, but that thread seemed to drop partway through, with Samuel playing far smaller a role than I anticipated.

Overall, this is an interesting read with some intriguing characters and strong themes of family, but I'd hoped for more questions to be answered by the end.

Life in a small Irish town is difficult when you're struggling to cope with somatic OCD and being outed as a bisexual in a super conservative place. Dayna has the added difficulty of being a witch, while also living with a Reverend father. For decades, a creepy serial killer known only as The Butcher, has been a fixture of true crime forums; he leaves behind strange symbols and seems to only go after women reported to be witches. All Dayna wants to do is become a full-fledged witch, grow up, and spend her time with her coven outside of her awkward home life. This plan goes out the window when Meiner King, and her grandmother the coven leader show up with visions of her own frightening death. What follows is a complex tale full of Celtic gods, modern pagan imagery, and one heck of an ending.

E. Latimer's Witches of Ash and Ruin is a hard book to put down once you get into it. It's awesome to read a book where a bisexual isn't made out to be a chaotic bad guy intent on destruction, but rather someone who has a real life. The book also addresses mental illness in a positive way, even making sure to show folks who both take medication and those who are looking at other methods.  This book is great for folks who are interested in crime, witches, and Celtic mythology. 

Witches of Ash and Ruin is available March 3, 2020 from Disney Book Group.

For some reason I did not connect with this book as I would have liked. I had hoped because it was a story of modern witchcraft blended with ancient Celtic mythology featuring a bisexual MC that had OCD. What was not to to fawn over? Yet, i still could not completely adore it.

This book is set in a small town in Ireland and we’re following a large cast of characters surrounding a homicide case with magic, witches, and covens. I liked how we’re introduced to a more ritualistic part of witch magic, and how the latter half of the book is action-packed! I would have liked to see more grounding into the world, meaning it felt at times it wasn’t taking place in an Irish town. I also wished there were less POVs (it had 6) as it felt hard to connect to the characters. I do appreciate the representation here with the F/F relationship and strong feminine power! Overall, I enjoyed it, but there were some parts that were lacking.

Unfortunately I decided to DNF at 20%. I have tried reading this a few different times but I always ended up putting it down. I thought that maybe I wasn’t in the mood for it, but I’ve realized that’s not the case. I wasn’t invested in the story nor was I connecting with the characters. This was just not the book for me.

I was very excited for this book, as everything about it screams my interest, and yet I could not really get into it. The plot is a bit fuzzy at parts, and I was halfway through before I felt like I had any idea what was going on, and more importantly, where the book even took place. It was billed as an Irish town but.... it read like a generic small town on the east coast of America, and there were several points where this was so distracting that I had to keep going back and trying to see if I’d made up that this was irish. The phrase “soccer mom” had me spinning for awhile, as a result of this.

I had been interested largely in the wlw romance but it started off as a very, very weak attempt at enemies to lovers and did not super grab me from there. It didn’t develop u til much later and it was just... thin. I think I’m being severe on this book largely because of how regularly I get burnt by wlw romances that go exactly like this, with very little tension or development to get me invested. And that is one of the main issues with the book for me: I enjoyed the characters but I didn’t particularly connect with any of them.

I have seen this will be a trilogy and I will likely continue to read more, just to see where it goes from here!

This had such an intriguing premise and I wanted to pick it up mainly because of the promised LGBTQ+ representation and the comparison to The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This was very action packed and interesting and I loved the plotline.

I'm a huge Victoria Schwab fan, and A Discovery of Witches is one of my favorite series (the TV version is also fabulous), so it seems like I was destined to read this book.

With Dayna having an unstable home life and an extremely traumatic experience with her father after being outed as bisexual, I loved how her coven is a found family full of love and support for her.  The older witches in her coven also serve as positive role models for the witchlings in the smaller coven.  Celtic mythology isn't something I'm familiar with, so I enjoyed learning more about it and how the author weaves it into her story.  Ireland as a setting is always a plus.  With both bisexual and gay characters, representation is also a strong point.

Multiple POVs aren't a problem for me as long as they serve a purpose; however, one of these disappears by the end of the book, and I was left wondering what happens to this character.  There are a lot of moving parts to this story, and several aren't addressed at the end.  Something that puzzled me was Dayna forgetting to mention that she learns a crucial piece of information regarding the murders - something that could have potentially stopped another one.  Preventing further killings is the primary reason the covens come together, so that was a hard pill to swallow.

Overall, this is an interesting read with some intriguing characters and strong themes of family, but I'd hoped for more questions to be answered by the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

All of the stars! I feel like it has been forever since I read a good witch book. The plot was intriguing and original. I need more!

I made it 25% into this title before putting it down. The premise was amazing and I was so excited to read this book. I just struggled to connect with the characters and the plot in this story.

I had a hard time keeping up with the plot as it felt clunky switching between characters and there were parts I went back and re-read to make sure I understood what was happening (and still found myself perplexed).