It’s the 1500s in Germany and witch hunters are scouring the land. Fritzi’s coven has been destroyed and her cousin taken. Otto is a witch hunter set on turning his sister in for a mass witch burning in Trier. When their paths cross and a spell goes awry each is set on a new course to stop the evil Kommandant who is truly behind the continued persecution of witches. Will they be able to protect the remaining witches and stop the terror of the hunters?

This was a great historical fantasy novel. The issue of witches and witch craft in the 1500s and the links to the Roman Empire was cleverly written into the story of Fritzi and Otto. Their story is a fun one to follow as each navigates this horrible time in history while their fledgling romance blooms. A clear villain is set so it is easy to root for our protagonists through the novel as well. 4 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley. Thank you!

Reading the synopsis, this book sounds promising but it just didn’t do it for me. The story felt like it was all over the place and things felt forced between Otto and Fritzi. I was bored and confused most of the time. I’m a bit interested in how this will end so I might pick up the next book.

Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis is the first in the Witch and Hunter series. Fritzi is a witch and Otto is a witch hunter - a hexenjäger. After the unlikely pair are thrown together during dangerous circumstances, they realize they may have more in common than they thought. Fueled by their need for revenge the pair set out to end the plight of the hexenjägers in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy tale.

First off - wow! I was really impressed by the world created within this novel. The fantasy world had a touch of realism so it was easy to get into. Some of the plot line was brutal and horrifying but it just propelled the characters actions more which I enjoyed.

I really liked our main duo in this book as I'm always a sucker for an enemies to lovers story line. And the story had dual-pov which is one of my favorite things! I loved reading about how each character took the scenes that happened to them.

I'd recommend Night of the Witch to anyone who wants to read an enemies to lovers witchy novel.

Thank you to Sourcebooksfire and Netgalley for a copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions containted within this reivew are my own.

I enjoyed reading about witch trials from a different setting than Salem. It was nice to see it from another country’s perspective.

I'd like to express my gratitude to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for granting me an ARC of this amazing book!

I must say, WOW! This book had me hooked with its storyline and amazing chemistry between the two main characters.

The historical and cultural elements in this book, drawing from German and Celtic traditions and the pre-Salem witch trials, added so much depth to the story and these are all the things Im actually so interested in so this book felt like it was made for me.

The magic system was really good, though some aspects were a bit predictable. Still, I wished for even more magic!

Thank you for this amazing book I enjoyed every second of it!

While I found that there were a lot of interesting elements to this book, I also found that it just wasn't for me.

Unfortunately, this book was a bit of a miss for me. I just found it really blah and dark in a depressing way. It's very religious and deals with the persecution of "witches", really just normal women. I found the characters to have little chemistry and both the plot and the characters felt generic. I enjoy Beth Revis' writing but the book itself is mediocre.

I honestly requested this book on a whim because it intriguing, but I did not expect to love it this much. 😍

The first book in a series, it follows Fritzi and Otto who are the literal definition of enemies to lovers: a witch and a witch hunter. After tragedy strikes her town, Fritzi finds herself working with the witch hunter who captured her to escape. I found the alternating POVs of Fritzi and Otto rather enjoyable as the reader gets both sides of what is happening in the plot. I loved Fritzi’s desire to redeem herself after what happens to her village, and her relationship with her young cousin, Liesel. 🌿

Otto was a fascinating character for me because of his interpretation of his Catholic faith. I thought his character arc was wonderfully done and that his relationship with Fritzi was based off of her decisions, not his alone. . . Or well, let’s say this is after they decide to work together. 🗡️

While the premise is focused on the history of the devastating witch trials in Trier, I thought it had a rather interesting intersection of religious persecution as well due to the beliefs Fritzi and her coven have. Maybe not a major point of the plot, just something that I picked up on and thought to be quite intriguing. 🧙🏼‍♀️

The only thing that stood out to me weirdly was that I have is that at one point, I did feel like the relationship between Fritzi and Otto was rather rushed, but then looking back at the sequence of events leading up to their budding romance, it does make sense.. . . So really, it was a rather minor setback for me; that and apparently this is YA when I was heavily convinced it was New Adult. 🤷🏻‍♀️

In the end, I loved the dynamics and banter between the two main characters, and I can’t wait for the sequel! 💚

Big thank you goes to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for approving my request in exchange for an honest review. And obviously a huge thanks goes out to the authors, Sara Raasch and Beth Revis for creating a fantastic fantasy set in a historically accurate depiction of Trier in medieval Germany. 🖤

Publication date: October 3, so go grab your copy! I definitely will get mine as soon as my book buying ban is over! 🥰

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Night of the Witch follows Fritzi, a young witch who survives a brutal attack on her coven, and Otto, a hexenjager (religious zealots whose mission is to hunt and eliminate witches) who has infiltrated the hexenjagers in an attempt to find a way to rescue the witches he believes have been unfairly imprisoned.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I thought Fritzi and Otto were solid characters -- though my feelings did fluctuate a lot with Otto being a hexenjager (I do ultimately think his role in the hexenjager's atrocities was decently challenged by the narrative) -- but the world they lived in did not feel fully realized. I'm not sure if there was more worldbuilding that needed to happen, or if the worldbuilding was simply undercut by a plot that kind of just... happened.

I do think Revis and Raasch are excellent writers at the sentence level, and the book certainly kept my attention. I simply just found myself wanting more, with higher expectations than what I felt I ultimately got.

If you look at this book as a romance, I think it functions better than if you look at it as a fantasy. Its romance was its strongest point by far, and definitely the thing that will pull me back for book 2.

This is a retelling based around the Witch Trials, and we join Fritzi who has survived a brutal attack on her coven and is looking for the only other surviving member.

Along the way, she crosses paths with Otto, who is a captain of the Witch hunters, but isn't all he seems.

Fritzi immediately distrusts Otto due to his title but when Otto explains he is on his own journey, one of revenge and hopefully making things better, Fritzi agrees to help him

Along the way, they will find out so much about Magic, and each other, but is it enough....

The world was cruel and harsh, but with hope along the way, and a touch of destiny.... and this particular enemies to loves story felt very Nina and Matthias to me and I loved it.

After that ending, I cannot wait on the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and SourceFire books for the early copy of this... and it was released yesterday so you can pick this up now

“You’re…exceptional, Otto Ernst.” “Exceptional?” he asks, arching an eyebrow at me. “Well, acceptable, at the very least.”

Night of the Witch was absolutely addictive and magical. Fast paced, action packed and utterly nerve wracking. It’s a story of hope versus fear. Of light vs darkness. Of standing up for what’s right. Filled with stalking dangers, captivating characters and so much fire. I literally could not stop reading. I was totally enraptured. Bewitched. Obsessed. I can’t wait for everyone to read it so I can really talk about it. Ps. When you are done, don’t forget to read the authors note.

✨ALL THE THINGS✨
•History meets fantasy •Witch trials in medieval Germany •Spells and magic •Hexenjägers aka witch hunters •Dual pov •Hurt/ comfort •Spiced wine and beer •Only one bed •Secret agendas and twists •He falls first

“Tonight,” she calls, “we protect the Well by leaving the Well. We defend magic beyond our border. Tonight,” she yells, her voice ringing out, “we ride!”

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me! The plot sounds super exciting but it just didn’t follow through on my expectations. There was no chemistry between our main characters and the villain felt like their plot line was just cobbled together last minute.

dnf

The premise of this book has so much potential. But, unfortunately, I didn’t love this book. The plot moved very slow, while the relationship moved fast. I feel like the slow burn would have been warranted here qs like a parallel to the plot. The world building—however— was definitely its strong point.

I first want to thank Sara Raasch, Beth Revis, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for this ARC ebook edition.

Fritzi is a green witch in one of the last covens in the Roman Empire. Raised by her mother, who has been chosen by the Mother, one of their three goddesses, she's been taught to only ever draw from the Well, only use her power for good. And to stay away from Wild Magic at all costs. Except, Wild Magic wants Fritzi. It wants her to break off from the well so it can show her the full limitlessness of her potential.

When a group of hexenjägers -- witch hunters -- raid her small village, Fritzi is one of only two who survives. Now she needs to free her younger cousin from the hexenjägers grasp and do what she can to stop the mindless killing of innocents.

Otto Ernst is a hexenjäger. At least on the surface. But he's been working for years with his sister to devise a plan that will not only free a hundred innocent lives from being burned at the stake, but could encourage the people of Frier to rise up against the hexenjägers. Against the Arch Bishop.

As these two find themselves walking the same path after an unexpected encounter, they'll have to work together in order to achieve both their goals -- rescue the innocents, protect the witches, take down the hexenjägers and, most importantly, their leader. Kommandant Dieter Kirch

This book had Serpent & Dove vibes to a small degree. One is a witch, the other a witch hunter. Despite standing on opposite sides, they find their goals are the same. However, that's primarily where the similarities lie. Where S&D was full of banter and bawdy songs, this book focuses more on the grim situation that led so many innocents. Where Reid and Lou truly were enemies, even while they had to pretend not to be, Fritzi and Otto have an almost instant and tender connection to the point "enemies to lovers" doesn't quite match the vibe of this book.

I loved the magic system. The limits. The rules. I liked the gritty nature of this book. The darker atmosphere and harsher realities.

That being said, our primary villain fell a little flat for me. To be sure, he was plenty scary, vicious, mad. But this is a man who only wants more power. A man with a god complex. And that kind of villainy has always felts a bit lackluster. I like my villains to have deeper motivations behind why they seek to accomplish their goals. I like when I, as a reader, can almost understand why others might follow them, even if I wouldn't. But a bad guy who does bad things for the sake of being bad? It just doesn't hit with me.

Ultimately, this ended up being 3.5 stars, rounded up. Loved our heroes. But found I didn't care anything about the villain. Rather, the politics behind the rules of the magic and those driving the witches were far more interesting.

Loved this book so so so much. My witchy soul is very happy that I got the chance to read this amazing book, It is such a fun and interesting ride. The characters are amazing and the fact that we have a sassy witch with a witch hunter that is kind of a hidden cinnamon roll-ish? made the romance very satisfying. There are parts that go back and forth with no warning but that is the magic of it. You really have to stop and process whats happening. I honestly recommend everyone to read it with zero rush. It is a beautiful story that trapped me from page one. I'm a huge fan of history and this book took me on a ride that not many books make me take. I sometimes felt I was present in the moment; reliving the past and I cannot tell you how much it enamored me.
Don't hesitate and read Night of a Witch. It is the perfect book for fall too!
Here you’ll find:
Enemies to lovers 🗡️❤️‍🔥
Found family 👭
Witch trials ⛓️
Dual POV👫
Medieval Germany 🏰
Sassy Witch🔮
Witch Hunter 🤡

I'm a huge fan of Beth Revis, so when I saw that she had an adult book ABOUT WITCHES releasing, I knew I had to read it. Sara Raasch is a new to me auth9or, but their ability to weave this story with Beth made me a fan.

Night of the Witch is a retelling of the European Witch trials (also, sidebar, but I've recently been learning German, so having this set in German speaking areas was fun). We have dual POV from a young witch, trying to resist falling into madness and a magic she shouldn't use, as well as a secret double agent Witch Hunter, set on avenging his dead step-mother and sister.

The takes were high and the romantic subplot was *chef's kiss*. We do end off on a cliffhanger, so book two cannot come soon enough!

The Night of the Witch is a story about a young witch, Fritzi, who loses her entire coven in a horrific attack by the “hexenjagers”, or witch hunters. As she is escaping for her life, she meets a hexenjager, Otto, who is undercover trying to take the establishment down from within. The two form an uneasy bond when they realize they have the same goal and make a plan to defeat their mutual enemy together.

This book takes place in Germany during the medieval witch trials, which is not something I have read before, and I loved this world and the reimagining of history. Witches and historical fiction? Count me in! I thought the system of magic was interesting and I feel there is still quite a bit to be uncovered. Fritzi and Otto were both very likable characters and I thought that the storytelling with their dual POV was handled well. While I was a big fan of their love connection, it was a bit insta-lovey, especially with how quickly their deep connection became. I was not expecting the spice, but it was a welcome surprise and sat at a nice moderate level with plenty of tension- definitely not closed door, but not full blown graphic erotica either. The plot was super twisty, including a huge one at the halfway point that I didn't see coming at all and completely changed where I thought the book was going. There is some dark and graphic violence in here as well and the big bad, Dieter Kirch, is a true psychopathic villain. The book ends on a huge cliff-hanger and I am definitely excited to see where this story will go.

I want to send a thank you to the publisher Sourcebook Fire for the ARC delivered via NetGalley.

I did not know what to expect out of this ARC, but I loved every character and page of this book. This book is set in the late 1500s in Germany during witch trials. The authors included German words throughout, which made it even more interesting. I felt it set me in the time and the place the author was trying to portray. The authors did it in a way that it didn’t cause any reading issues. It is a fast-paced read and is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. I can’t wait for the next book in this series and will check out their other published books.

In the enthralling tale of "Night of the Witch," readers are invited into a world where vengeance and destiny entwine in a thrilling dance between a witch and a hunter. Set against a backdrop of dark secrets and haunting pasts, this novel delves into the depths of human emotion and the unforgiving pursuit of retribution.

Fritzi, a resilient witch and survivor of a brutal coven attack, stands as a beacon of determination to bring justice to those who inflicted immeasurable pain on her kind. Her journey to avenge her fallen coven members takes a compelling turn when she finds an unexpected ally in Otto, a hexenjäger hiding beneath the guise of his own vendetta. Their paths converge in a maelstrom of shared objectives and colliding fates, revealing a story rich in suspense, deceit, and burgeoning love.

At the heart of this narrative is Fritzi's unwavering desire to seek justice for her lost family, pushing her to confront the ominous figurehead of the zealous witch hunters, Kommandant Dieter Kirch. The author brilliantly captures Fritzi's resilience and her struggle to reconcile her thirst for retribution with the budding feelings she discovers for Otto, who, unbeknownst to her, is deeply entangled in her quest for vengeance.

Otto, a conflicted hexenjäger and a captivated reader's point of view into the world of the hunters, grapples with his own history of loss and betrayal. The tormented emotions he carries from the past fuel his resolve to dismantle the very organization that shattered his family. As his true identity is gradually unveiled, readers are taken on a riveting journey, navigating the intricacies of Otto's psyche and the inevitable clash between duty and burgeoning love.

The dynamics between Fritzi and Otto are captivating and complex, unraveling against a backdrop of danger and intrigue. As they navigate their tumultuous alliance, their growing connection adds a layer of vulnerability and depth to the story, reminding us that love has the power to transcend the boundaries of hatred and vengeance.

The narrative is richly woven, revealing shocking revelations and a far-reaching conspiracy at the core of the hexenjäger attacks. The suspense is expertly maintained, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the last page. The plot unfolds with precision, blending magic, mystery, and a touch of romance seamlessly.

"Night of the Witch" is a riveting and evocative tale that will captivate readers from start to finish. The author's masterful storytelling skillfully portrays the complexities of love, revenge, and the everlasting fight for justice. This book is a must-read for those seeking an enthralling mix of the supernatural and the emotional depths of the human soul.

A big thanks to Netgalley and SourceFireBooks for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gave me strong Serpent and Dove vibes, and I don't know if I'm living for it or not.

Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis is a YA fantasy novel about a witch and a hunter. Fritzi is a witch. A survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, she's determined to find her only surviving family member and bring the hexenjägers—zealot witch hunters—to justice for the lives they ended. To do this, she will need to take down their leader—Kommandant Dieter Kirch. Otto is a hexenjäger and a captain, the second in command to Dieter Kirch—but that's just his cover. Years ago, the hexenjägers burned his innocent mother alive and since then, he has been planning a move against the witch hunters that tore his family apart. And now the time has come for them to pay for what they've done. When Fritzi and Otto are unexpectedly thrown together, neither is sure they can trust the other, despite their common enemy. But all they have is one another, and they both crave revenge. As truths come to light and trust shifts, Fritzi and Otto uncover a far more horrifying plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all.

I have previously read Beth Revis Shades of Earth Trilogy (and loved it) and her Give the Dark My Love (and not so loved it.). So it's safe to assume that she is better at writing science fiction instead of fantasy. It wasn't that I didn't love this book, as I quite enjoyed it. But I felt like it was lacking. In what, I can't say for certain. But it also gave me so many Serpent and Dove vibes, that I felt like Lou and Reid were going to show up (spoiler alert, they don't).