DNF 22%

I really wanted to love this book based on the premise of a sapphic fantasy estranged friends-to-lovers dynamic, but I feel utterly disconnected to the voices/POVs of both main characters. The plot moves incredibly slowly and it feels as though we're being hand-fed information rather than living through the story organically. I simply wasn't able to engage with the story at all.

A dark, lush fantasy retelling of Rapunzel with vampires, witches, and forbidden love. The world is rich, the romance is angsty, and the action is thrilling. A fresh, gothic YA fantasy.

It took me a while to get into this story. It wasn't my favorite read. It was interesting but i didn't love the ending it was kind of abrupt for me.

Thank you for an early edition of The Witch and the Vampire. As intriguing as this book sounded it unfortunately wasn't for me.

This book had a really interesting and unique premise that I was really excited about but I found the execution didn’t live up to the hype of the concept and undermined my enjoyment of the book.

If The Witch and the Vampire had undergone a few more rounds of edits, I think it could have truly lived up to its potential. As it stands, I enjoyed the story but encountered some issues along the way. That said, I'm still glad I read it—the romance was delightful and had me smiling throughout. The ending was left somewhat open, so I’d definitely be interested in reading more about Ava and Kaye!

A sapphic rapunzel retelling that's friends to lovers. Sign me up please!! But also ... an unknown rivals/enemies to lovers due to species? Intriguing. It's a Rapunzel retelling that will keep you on the edge of your seat, hope you can keep your emotions in check because I never do when people are locked away, hence the Rapunzel retelling. A super unique take on the Rapunzel storyline. I enjoyed it.

I found the characters of this book annoying and the plot uninteresting. No matter how hard I tried, I wasn’t interested in what was happening and it felt like such a slog to read. The premise was good, but the execution was lacking.

Favorite quote(s):

“For the first time in my life—and this new life-I let go of safety, fear, doubt. I let go of trying to change myself to fit into what other people want me to be.”

“Plenty of people have tried to control both me and Ava. They've all underestimated us, our voices and our presence and our power. And they all missed the exact moment we grew strong enough to stand on our own.”


Review:

I enjoyed this book and the story it told. I enjoyed Ava and Kaye as characters and how they went from friends to enemies to lovers, with allies in between. I thought the world and magic and how it worked were interesting and I loved learning more. I wished that we had flashbacks of their past rather than having the characters say what happened. The story also felt short, and I wanted more of it, especially after that ending. Several characters pissed me off, like Ava’s mother and some witches and not to mention Cassiopeia. This book was quick and full of secrets, betrayal, love, fighting, and more. Overall, I enjoyed this story. I just wish it was longer.

We get a Rapunzel inspired Sapphic story with The Witch and the Vampire. I have to say this was a 3.5 star read for me.

We get a friends to lovers story here with Ava and Kaye. Ava has been locked away by her mom while being confined and abused. Once she's able to escape she makes an alliance to travel through the dangerous forest. Kaye has ulterior motives though.

I struggled to move on from Kaye's anger because she was angry almost the entire time which really overshadowed most of the plot for me.

The pacing was also a bit slower that some parts did feel dragged on but overall i enjoyed the plot of the story even if the execution wasn't the best.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch and the Vampire was an interesting book to dive into today. In this, you will meet Ava and Kaye. They used to be best friends until they weren't. When they finally reunited, there was lots of confusion and tension between them. It also doesn't help that they are sort of enemies due to who they are either. Meaning, Ava used to be a witch but was turned into a vampire against her will, and Kaye is a witch who technically kills vampires.

Long story short, they need to sort out their differences. And maybe, just maybe, talk about what happened to them and such to ease the pain. Call it "we used to be friends, and now we might like each other" therapy. Or something like that.

Anyways, I really liked and enjoyed the romance between them. It was definitely a slow-burn romance, which I'm not always into, but it made sense for these two. They were taught something and are only just beginning to question things. It was interesting to see them break through the uncomfortable talks because it made them a bit closer.

Other than that, the rest of the book had it's pros and cons throughout. I'm not going to complain about anything specific since it was still easy to listen to on my end. Thankful for the opportunity to read this little gem.

I own this and intend to read it in the future I'm just clearing this off my board to reduce stress. I will update when I read/review.

Ava is a root witch turned vampire that has been trapped in her mother's tower for two years. Kaye is a fire witch that was friends with Ava until the night her mother was murdered, believing that ava was the murderer. When all hell breaks loose in their town, Ava escapes only to be captured by Kaye. They learn a few truths that turn their lives upside down and journey together to save their people and their forest, growing closer together as they journey on.

This book had so much potential in my mind; a Rapunzel retelling, Friends-to-Enemies-to-lovers, Witches and Vampires, however, the writing fell a little flat for me. Ava and Kaye had a lot of will they or won't they moments without the tension needed to make it feel believable.

Sure, Ava's mother has locked her in a tower, refuses to let her cut her hair, and siphons off her magic... but she's no typical Rapunzel. Ava's a vampire. More dramatically, she's a witch who was turned into a vampire against her will and at her prime. This combination allows her to not only retain her Root witch magic in undeath, but also allows her captor to steal it at will. Between her controlling matriarch and the stepfather who lingers and stares when they're alone, Ava knows her only chance at something better is to escape. Vampires are sequestered behind a magical barrier in the forest, and Ava is desperate to join their society.

In the before times of Ava's human youth, she was friends with another young witch, Kaye. Kaye's a Flame witch, a designation that focuses on vampire hunting. Kaye has more than enough reason to throw herself into that duty with a passion. A vampire killed her mother. And Kaye knows her former best friend was secretly hidden away with blood on her lips soon after. A coincidence? She thinks not.

The Witch and the Vampire is pretty standard ya fantasy fare in terms of angst-fueled enemies-to-lovers (the sapphic twist is appreciated, though). The romance plods along in fits and starts while we get basic, repetitive infodumps and an unmysterious plot masquerading as one with more oomph. It's a classic tale of lies dressed up as history and enmity stoked to suit those in power. While I appreciate those kinds of narratives, this story feels weak and lacking in flavor compared to others I've read. To make matters worse, we're gifted with an anticlimactic, rushed ending that feels like it's checking a bunch of boxes rather than flowing in a sensical way. It's the icing on top of a book that failed at every turn to do something new and interesting.

Here's the thing. I want more sapphic stories in all the genres, and I want them to succeed. This one just didn't engage my interest from a plot or character standpoint. It's a classic case of wanting to love a book and ending up disappointed. Thanks to Wednesday for my copy to read and review!

What a beautiful cover ! It is what attracted me first. Then I discovered the story which was really good ! I greatly enjoyed the world building and the characters.

After seeing the cover and reading that this was a Rapunzel retelling I was excited to start this one.

One thing to note before my review.
I am super picky when it comes to Rapunzel/ Tangled retellings.

This book was so disappointing.
The writing felt pretty basic and sometimes even clunky, made it hard to stay engaged with the story. Instead of pulling me into the world, the writing just kind of left me feeling disconnected.
The story moves so slowly. There’s not a lot of action or tension to keep you hooked, so it drags on, making it hard to stay interested.

The book had a cool premise but it never really came together in a way that grabbed my attention

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended

Oh I love retellings! This was cleverly done and I truly enjoyed it. Gorgeous world building, mystery mixed in and lovely characters.

what a fun twist on the witch and vampire stories we all know! This book had me hooked the plot kept me guessing till the end and i loved the character development we got to see throughout!

Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.