The more I mull this one over, the more I realize how much I didn't enjoy my reading experience. The historical setting and worldbuilding were pretty good and I was invested, but it's hard for me to accept a "romance" that's built on lust and physical attraction and a villain that's near invincible. The witch religion was also just out of control with how many lies were uncovered; although it was clear that all those lies were wrong to have been told, I was still frustrated because there was little to no retribution for that. And the reveal of the archbishop being under Dieter's control the entire time? Why was his sleeve pulled up if Dieter knows it's there? Have it fall back by itself or something. It's little details like that that are just so lazy and only there because the authors couldn't think of a better way to include them. I don't think I'll be continuing with this one. My full review is linked below.

I ended up DNFing this title. Nothing against the authors or the premise, I just couldn't get into it no matter how I tried. Was also confused as to whether this title was YA or Adult based on some of the marketing.

although i felt the plot was a bit slow-paced for my liking, i did enjoy the characters and the idea of the story. i wish there was more substance to the romance but overall it was still okay! not that big of a deal. i was more interested towards the ending of the book and can’t wait for the next book!

This was a good classic YA witchy read. The romance didn’t hit for me. It moved to fast and I didn’t feel their chemistry. Loved the world building and magic and historical aspect. I chuckled a couple times. It was ok.

An immersive historical fantasy. Fritzi is a witch, and as the story starts, one of the few survivors of an attack on her coven. Her cousin Liesel has been taken by the hexenjägers (witch hunters), and she will stop at nothing to rescue her. Otto is a captain of the hexenjägers, albeit one who has been working from the inside with plans to stop them. Can a witch and a witch hunter work together to take down the kommandant, Dieter? They each have their reasons for revenge, but along the way, they may also find a surprising connection.

I really enjoyed this read. It's apparently loosely based on the true witch hunts in 1580s Germany, with the addition of real magic. I liked the setting. The magic that the authors have created works well in my opinion. It's interesting, and I can't wait to see how it further develops in book two. I tend to enjoy enemies to lovers romances. Though in this case, Otto really wasn't a true enemy for long. The romance was sweet. The villain is very creepy as well. That final fight, and the epilogue: shivers. The ending clearly sets up for book two, which I will definitely be on the lookout for.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book actually took me so long to read because I just couldn’t get into it! After a while I did end up enjoying it but it took too long for me to get to that point!

"Love is never a sin."

This was everything I’d hoped it would be! The characters are so well-developed and intriguing, the plot has left me hanging to see what is next. I loved the story and I loved the romance in it. Otto and Frizti were the perfect example of how enemies to lovers should be made in a fantasy book. And their banter!! I love, love it so much!

Night of the Witch had me on edge nearly the whole time. I was afraid to turn the page because I was scared the next page would put the main characters' lives in peril (more than they already were). It always felt like something terrible would happen! My fear for Fritzi and Otto spurred me on to finish the book. (I also could not stop turning the page.) I recommend Night of the Witch if you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers and complicated families.

I’ve read several witchy books over the past year, and the potential conflict between a witch and a hunter grabbed my attention. I’m also a fan of a previous duology written by Revis.

This book doesn’t waste any time diving into the story, and the action starts from the first page when Fritzi’s coven (including her mother) is attacked and killed by witch hunters. Her young cousin survives and is taken by hunters, and Fritzi is now on a mission to find her and take out their leader, Dieter Kirch. Otto is a hunter and second in command to Kirch, but he’s been working undercover against the hunters for years. His carefully constructed plan to free the incarcerated witches and wreak havoc for Dieter hits a roadblock and is in danger of failing. When he encounters Fritzi it doesn’t take him long to trust her, but he basically has no other choice if he wants his plan to succeed. It doesn’t hurt that their goals align.

Fritzi and Otto’s relationship is a little bit insta-love, but I did like that there isn’t a lot of relationship drama – they actually communicate with each other. She’s stubborn and challenges him at nearly every turn, he’s determined to help as many witches as possible, and it’s easy to like both characters. The alternating POV chapters allowed me more insight to their thoughts and actions. Dieter is a truly evil person. I kept imagining a younger Neal McDonough (who always gives outstanding performances as bad buys) in the role. Some of his actions made me cringe – he’s completely irredeemable.

This is an interesting blend of historical fiction and fantasy, and the magical system is well-explained. Pacing is slow at times, but a couple of well-timed secret reveals help move the story along. I wasn’t sure if this was a standalone, but the cliffhanger at the end leaves no doubt another book is in the works – and it’s already been added to my watchlist.

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

I love books involving witches. I love forbidden romances too. Good story for October. The book was okay, nothing memorable.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

2.5/5 stars

I really, really wanted to love this one and if I took it at face value....I might have. But if I spent more than a few seconds thinking about this story, there were glaring plot holes and contradicting developments and a romance that just, exists with no build up. It's a really cool idea and not terribly written but it very much felt like a draft that no one read deeply enough to find inconsistencies and holes.

If you want a quick, easy, witchy read - this will probably be fun for you. It was enjoyable enough to read, if the pacing felt slow at points - but if you want something intellectual with a tight story that will really catch you by surprise and make you think....this might not be for you.

This book really could have been perfect for Halloween time - sinister reimagining of witch and witch hunter?! Check check. Sadly it did not live up to that for me. It was boring and nothing much seemed to happen until the very end and then a cliffy? Not sure I’ll continue with the series but do think there may be more action in later books as this was the set up. Maybe?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy!

As a fan of Beth Revis and witches, I couldn’t wait to read this book. I’m so glad I enjoyed it as much as I have her previous books! This book grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let up.

I was really into the witch books this year and this one really hit the spot. From the characters to the way magic worked for them I was hooked!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This is a book perfect for spooky season reading. I enjoyed the chemistry between Fritzi and Otto and must say at first it was unexpected that these two teamed up together to defeat the witch hunters.

I love books of magic, I'm just so drawn to them ✨

So when Sourcebooks Fire posted, Night of the Witch on a 24hr 'read now' option on NetGalley, I took a chance. I didn't get to read it right away and I did finish it a week behind pubday BUT I really really enjoyed it!

I went in completely blind, so it did take a few chapters before I finally got hooked. It was a lot darker than I was expecting towards the end then my normal cozy witchy reads, but it brought a whole new layer to the tale. I was constantly routing for the MCs ❤️‍🔥 and now here I sit knowing I have to wait til next fall for book2:
Fate of the Magic!!!

Some favorite 🔥 Highlights!
✍️
"The thought makes my fists bunch. I will do this to save the innocents. But if anyone hurts her, they will pay."

"I swear I can feel his grin in the darkness. And the sensation of him smiling in this space of sightlessness but being unable to see it is unbearably intimate..."

“that I want you to throw me against the wall of this castle and make me see that god of yours.”

"She is a feast I will spend the rest of my life starving for."

“I need you to know, this is not some illicit tryst I ask of you,” I say, searching her eyes. “When I say I want you, I mean all of you, for all of time. I do not want your body alone, Friederike; I want you, and I give myself to you, all of me that you desire.”

"I pull us both back into the darker water as I worship at the altar of her lips."

#nightofthewitch
#sararaasch #bethrevis #sourcebooksfire #forbiddenromance #darkmagic #witchtrials #witchyreads #bookreview #5starread

Shocked to say I DNF'ed this one, and I'm stumped as to why. It has everything I normally love about YA fantasy. Quick pacing, accessible world building, and conflicted characters. Not to mention I'm a sucker for the hunter and hunted romance trope. I'll probably try it again someday, but for now, I'm not quite in the mood for it.

This book was a little disappointing. I thought it would be more of one thing but it headed in a direction that I didn’t love. I DNF at around 20%. The cover I feel like doesn’t fit the story that well and maybe that’s why I felt like I was expecting something else

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I thought this would be right up my alley, but for one reason or another it missed the mark. It starts off strong, but then drops off and is incredibly slow. There are a lot of instances of telling instead of showing and overall the story is too long.

Awesome book! Here are some facts/tropes:
✨️historical fantasy
🧙🏼‍♀️witches
🔥witchhunt
🗡rebellion
❤️romance
🌶lil bit spicy
🤭forbidden love
🩷enemies to lovers
👥️family issues

This book was so amazing! I loved the historical part of the european witchhunt, but of course, the added spice of witches being real, completely sealed the deal. I also absolutely loved otto and his own backstory, which absolutely added to the story. And I barely ever love epilogues but this one... I cant even. This was amazing!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review.