Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I am a little conflicted on this review. The good: the cover is absolutely stunning; the Jamaican vibe throughout was a really fresh and interesting perspective; the main characters were all strong, smart, determined women; the world-building was pretty solid. The not-so-good: there are a lot of characters and I found myself pretty confused throughout; the book is quite long, but I still felt like there wasn’t really a lot that happened. You could definitely tell the author was ramping this up to be a trilogy or series. Overall, I would recommend this one and I do think the series will improve over the next book or two. A solid 3.5 stars, but rounding up to 4.

While I appreciate a beautiful world detailing various Jamaican magic and a plot to kill royalty, the writing style of this one just wasn’t my cup of tea. I was confused from the beginning and had trouble understanding what was going on. Even as the story developed, I found myself trying too hard to piece together characters, Magic’s, etc. For me, I want to read for enjoyment. So, if a story feels like it’s too much work to keep track of, it makes me not want to keep reading. I may be in the minority of readers on this, but I think my time may be better spent on other stories at this time.

This is the story of two witches on opposite sides of a fight over the throne of a Jamaica-inspired island, both arguably the rightful heirs to the kingdom, who come together for the purpose of overthrowing the current ruler - who happens to be the mother of one of them. This book delivered on everything that was promised. It had a way of enveloping me in its magic and it world. It's an incredibly unique fantasy and I am adding it to the list of books that need to be adapted.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a phenomenal read!

A story full of intrigue and told from opposing viewpoints. It felt action packed from the beginning! There's a big cast of characters who are memorable and have more than two dimensions. The world building is beautiful. It has magic and twists and turns!

An epic read for sure!

One of the best books I have read this entire year! "Witches Steeped in Gold" does it all! Two opposing narratives, suspense, and slightly stress-inducing.
The two main characters in the book come from two families. Iraya's family once ruled Aicaya that Jazmyne's mother dethroned. Both want revenge of a sort. In theory, they want the same thing, but they have different goals. Both PoVs are very distinct from the other. Iraya's is sarcastic and Jazmyne's is careful and both are calculative. Then there is Kirdan. I have never both simultaneously hated and loved a character so much before. Honestly, they all sent me on an emotional rollercoaster.
The character development! THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Beautiful! Iraya and Jazmyne are both so driven by their goals that they change when things don't go as they planned. It's also very clear why they changed, but apparently to Kirdan, it isn't, because if it did I wouldn't be as angry at him. Maybe. These women are just stunning! They are extremely passionate about what they think is right. They are selfish, but also selfless. Absolutely beautiful. I'm crushing on Iraya and Jazmyne so much!
The plot was also extremely well done. However, I wish the plot started later in the story. I understand why it started where it was, but the beginning does feel a little slow. It takes a while for Ira and Jazmyne's stories to intertwine, which is where the story begins to pick up. However, it is worth the wait! Also, some of the scenes at the beginning of the book felt a little unnecessary. But, they helped develop the characters, so I can't complain too much! I loved it!
The world-building was . . . SO MUCH FUN! The setting is based on Jamaica and the witches in this book are based around Caribbean culture. Also, there are pirates. I repeat, there are witches and pirates! So, um... Just read the book! It's fantastic. If you are looking for more unique and culturally representative world-building, buy this book! You just need to read it! It's fantastic! Of course, I recommend it! It's enjoyable and beautifully written. It's very obvious a lot went into this book and I am incredibly thankful that I was allowed the chance to read the ARC. I can't wait to buy this book and talk to others about it!

This book is simply magical. I love the writers obvious passion for the Jamaican legends that she learned as a child and how she turned it into an inspiring first novel. Magic, legends, conflict, and suspense! I'm not usually one for fantasy novels, but this book has it all!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a free Ebook in exchange for an honest review!

This is the best book I've read in a very long time!

Point one: Great characters! Iraya is a badass for the ages, and I adored Jazmyne, too! Point two: Wonderful worldbuilding! Never in my life have I come across a Jamaican-inspired fantasy! Point three: A fabulous magic system! Family trees and inheritance and conduit metals! It's so unique!

I literally cannot find anything I don't like about this book!

I give Witches Steeped in Gold five stars out of five!

This book was so tough to get through. While I love the characters and the story... there is so much detail that it makes it so hard to get through. While I had trouble making it through the book as quickly as I normally read, I do recommend you give it a chance because it is a wonderful story with vibrant characters.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IN THE WORLD! FANTASTIC, MAGICAL, GOLDEN, TRY IT AND ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the story of two witches on opposite sides of a fight over the throne of a Jamaica-inspired island, both arguably the rightful heirs to the kingdom, who come together for the purpose of overthrowing the current ruler - who happens to be the mother of one of them. Overall, the premise and atmosphere were exciting and full of potential, but the actual execution left a lot of things unclear as the plot unfolded.

The thing that stands out most here is the magic system. It is clearly inspired by the Jamaican mythos, but the reliance of all magic-users on gold was a really interesting device. The inclusion of deep patwah/patois as the language used in great magical workings was excellent, and overall although I can't say I have a comprehensive understanding of the magic system, neither do the two point of view characters so we're all on even footing.

With the twists and turns the plot took, however, there was very little (if any) foreshadowing which made them seem almost entirely random. It seemed to be gearing up to some really interesting character developments, until the introduction of a story about ancient artifacts at which point the story kind of turned into something of a Horcrux search, and almost entirely abandoned the rebellion plot line, only to return to it so quickly that I got mental whiplash. The narrators weren't unreliable, but it almost seemed that way because plot developments popped out of nowhere with increasing frequency as the book went on.

Although this would have been a 5* read for me, the lack of clarity behind a lot of the plot elements - to the point where some of them seemed very deus ex machina - knocked it down to 4*. This is not a quick read, but for fantasy lovers who are looking for something to shake up their day I think this is going to be a hit.

Wow! That was intense. I have to be honest, I was very confused in the beginning. There are a lot of characters and magic to remember. The world building is great though, I definitely wanted more. This book is rich and a very slow burn. The author took time writing this gem.

I loved it, love the characters, love the world and absolutely NEED the physical book! I don't know how I am going to wait for book 2!!!!

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for letting me read this book in an exchange for an honest review.

While the world building is excellent and complex, pacing is a serious problem in this work. The first half of the novel is painfully slow and most of the action driving events occur "off stage" so speak, resulting in hundreds of pages of the two protagonists reacting rather than doing (and those reactions are largely wishing they or their lives were different, that they were older, that past traumas hadn't occurred, etc.). The pace radically increases in the second half, which is refreshing, but ultimately the increase in pacing has minimal payoff as the sudden rush towards the end results in an abrupt cliffhanger. In some ways the reader is left feeling like they just read a 500+ page background or grounding preface, rather than a novel/story in its own right. The second volume, when it comes, will hopefully result in more meaningful action that will move the plot forward. Fans of Laurie Forest's The Black Witch Chronicles should give it a try.

Overall I thought this was a very interesting story. I appreciated the world building and the character portrayals. The relationships between characters were intense, and overall this was a dark and interesting book. Unfortunately for me, the pacing was too slow and I had trouble getting into the flow of the story. I think people who like more slow-burn fantasy will greatly enjoy this book.

There are times when we must step into our own skin. There are times when our lives are planned for us. This tale is of two young women, both fighting to live. Both working towards a destiny that can free them or their people. The book is magical, both light and dark. There is patois or patwah speech, twists and unexpected turns. It is the first in a remarkable series. I expect great things from this author.

A fantastic and thrilling book with a stunning setting and unforgettable characters. I truly look forward to what Ciannon Smart writes next.

If HBO wants to do another Game of Thrones style TV show, this would be the perfect one to pick up! Filled with rich world building and complicated characters, this book will satisfy any lover of high fantasy; do not let the YA rating scare you! I am not quiet about the fact that I quit high fantasy years ago, because I was bored of reading books written by white men and basing their worlds off of Western Europe/England. It was the same thing over and over again. I am so happy that more diverse fantasy is being published and people are excited about it! This book is one that people will love and want more from this world, especially after that last line!

Jazmyn and Iraya have known nothing but hate for each other because of where they both come from. Jazmyn’s mother is responsible for the death of Iraya’s parents and the imprisonment of her people and the subjugation of so many people across their land. However, change is coming and if they can work together then their island may have a chance for change and magic can be restored to its rightful owners. I liked this book but it is very confusing for at least the first half. There are a lot of characters and places and history and I had a challenging time keeping it all straight!

I wasn't sure I would like this book but I decided to give it a chance. I am so happy I did because it was so good!! I read it in a day it was so good. The plotline was so exciting and I could not wait to find out what happens next. I will be purchasing this book for my library's YA collection because I know the teens will love this book.

Met expectations and better, definitely can't wait for the next book in the series. And I will never turn down a book about witches, so it was a really nice different settings for witches and magic, excited to see if new stories about witches will catch on.