Minna and Kaija are sisters, witches with very different desires in life. Kaija is gentle and longs for a family while Minna is impetuous and filled with anger over the loss of their mother. As Kaija sets off to find the life she wants, Mina’s anger will set them both on a path that could destroy them both. I loved this story about sisters, love, strength and the possibility of forgiveness.

I love anything witchy, and was really looking forward to an atmospheric Norway village vibe. Unfortunately nothing really happens in this book - there's little in the way of plot, dialogue, action, etc. The pacing, character development, and world building are also weak.

This book focuses on two witch sisters living in isolation deep in the woods of ancient Norway. When one decides to leave for life in civilization, the other takes out her anger at the betrayal. Their feelings are examined as they change, along with the unintended consequences of their magic. It is a book about growth, choices, redemption, and the power we have to choose our own path. There were wonderful details of daily life, surviving in the woods, and the history and descriptions of old Norwegian village life. I enjoyed the characters' changing relationships and motives, and the theme of forgiveness.

3.5
Thanks to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about two witches in northern Norway who have lived alone in the woods with their grandma after the village people burned their mother alive years ago. When their grandma passed away, one of the sisters, Kaija, decides to start a new life by going back to the village, leaving the other sister, Minna, alone and feeling utterly betrayed.

As a whole, I liked this story and what it tried to accomplish, though I don't feel like it succeeded in everything. One of the major aspects of the book is obviously the sisters and their dynamic. While on their own, I liked both of their characters, their dynamic together feels a bit strange at some points in the book. There are times where I just couldn't see why they did certain things to each other, or feel a certain way for each other. And I just wish the book delved a bit more into that instead of the plot.

As for the plot itself, it was fine, it worked and wasn't too predictable. There's always something going on so there was never any dull moment, though I wish there were more slower moments focusing on the sisters' thoughts about each other and why they think the way they do. There were also some scenes spent with some side characters that we never really get to know that well that didn't really contribute much.

Finally, the writing style is rather simple and not distracting, with the occasional flourishes of style along the way. One thing that I noticed is the fact that the writer used a lot of Norwegian terms out of nowhere, which is fine by me because I speak Swedish so they didn't pull me out of the story, but if you don't know any Scandinavian languages, then it might be a bit distracting.

Overall, I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a book about witches, or a book with two very different strong female main characters.

This books was so beautifully written and the messages that came through are so important. There's a witch inside all of us itching to be free. And we are all capable of being both good and wicked, and sometimes, you have to learn what is truly important in life the hard way. Thank you to Netalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

Welp… this was disappointing.

The witches at the end of the world is a book depicting 2 sisters, Minna and Kaija, who happened to be witches, and their journey as they navigate life in a world against them. Set in Norway, a catalyst that causes their mother’s death sets the two apart as they embark on different lives. While Minna bathes in vengeance, anger, and revenge, Kaija decides to lead a new life and hide in plain sight in a village that would have burned her alive should they find out her identity.

To be honest, one of the things that irks me to no end is bad /inconsistent writing. To list an example; in a paragraph about Kaija, a sentence says…”Shall we get started on those ten children?” he says, and closes the door with one steady, stockinged foot. I’m pretty sure no one in real life talks so directly like that. Some of the characters’ behaviors were also slightly eccentric, e.g. 'I want to say something to him, ask him what happened, but I’m not sure he’s even real. All I know is I need to close my eyes now and sleep.' Yes. You’ve just almost drowned in the sea, you’ve been saved by a man, but now you know you need to close your eyes now and sleep? It would have been better if it was described as Minna falling unconscious rather than her knowing she needs to “sleep” right there on the sand.

There were some other sentences that were decently woven, but they did not manage to support the plot. The plot was very vague; whereby for almost a whole section there was nothing substantial happening, and then suddenly at the end there is so much happening. I also got the feeling that the author was trying to write based on the assumption that the reader had already solidified concepts on witching, and there was not enough explanation on it. I don’t even know what do they wear as witches.

Altogether, it was a pretty mediocre book, and while I enjoyed reading the sisters’ relationship, it wasn’t wrapped up that well at the end, and could definitely have been more well-written.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a bit slower in the beginning, but once it picked up it had my undivided attention.

Atmospheric and incredibly descriptive comes to mind when describing this story. The tale centered on sisterhood, namely two sisters who differ widely in temperament and their personal plans for the future, and that which kept them together through their journeys. These two sisters are witches who grew up in isolation. Being Norwegian in heritage, and having a sister whom is quite different herself from me, I really liked that these characters each had their own voice, and I could easily picture the setting of the story. I was hoping the similarities would endear me to the story more as I could immerse fully. The story itself had SO much environmental detail, and not enough background lore to explain certain aspects of the story. Eventually the reader was led to the heart and action of the story as it began to pick up the pace closer to the end, but then it seemed rushed, like something was missing or plot information was cut to save space in printing the book. The lack of interactive dialogue and plot holes was disappointing and the immersive feel I hoped for, never came to fruition. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher Sourcebooks and to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and give my review of this book.

"The Witches at the End of the World" by Chelsea Iversen is a spellbinding story about magic, friendship, and revenge that takes readers to the hauntingly beautiful birchwoods of Norway. The story is about two sisters named Kaija and Minna who have magic running through their bodies. Kaija wants to live a quiet life in a community, but Minna's anger and rage take over her, and she ends up putting a terrible curse on the people who caused the tragedy that tore their lives apart. Kaija doesn't know it, but this action starts a dangerous chain of events that threatens everything, including the life she has made for herself.

Iversen's writing is mesmerising and evocative. It paints a clear picture of the magical scenery and the characters' inner turmoil. Even though the sisters are different, they have a strong bond, and the story is made more interesting by looking at the effects of anger and guilt. As the stakes get higher and the drama gets higher, readers will become more interested in the world of witches and the power they have.

"The Witches at the End of the World" is a spellbinding mix of magic and real emotion that shows the thin line between good and evil and the cost of letting anger get out of hand. Chelsea Iversen writes a gripping story that keeps readers interested right up to the last page. The ending is both frightening and memorable. This book is a must-read for people who like dark magic, complicated characters, and stories about sisters. It will make you think about the long-term effects of one witch's anger long after you've put the book down.

***A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.***

This was a fun tale of two sisters and magic. I’m a sucker for any books about witches, though the plot was slow moving on this one. It’s dual POV and a character driven novel. If you like witchy books, you’ll enjoy this one!

There is an aray of things to like here. I thought the religious views were good to see play out in the writing, The two sisters are the very sterio typical of love/hate relationships.
The actual story it’s self didn’t really go anywhere not a fat lot happened. I really struggled to keep reading at some points. Don’t get me wrong the beautiful writing describing the sisters, their motivations, witchcraft and feminism gets you invested but I really had to push to finish.

3.5; I think a lot of this book worked, just maybe not for me. Thanks to the author and publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows two sisters with wildly different ideas on how witching works and what their lives should look like after the death of their grandmother.

The good: Each sister had her own POV and even though they went through very similar upbringings, they both had clear and distinct voices that were consistent throughout the story. The setting felt lived-in and real, and the atmosphere felt appropriately folkloric and mystical. The arcs for the sisters felt realistic and were constantly in flux in a way that I enjoyed. The magic "system" was interesting to me and I enjoyed the ritualistic nature and unintended results of spells that were a good fit for the story and setting.

The not-so-good: The story itself was slow. The atmosphere felt right, but it took forever for the plot to move anywhere. I thought it was dragging a bit and finally felt something was about to happen, only to realize I was 70% through with the book. The relationship between Kaija and (view spoiler) felt under developed for how much he seemed to mean to her; that portion of the story was much more telling than showing. The resolution and forgiveness between (view spoiler) felt rushed and lacked the nuance I would've liked to see with a revelation as heavy as that was. (view spoiler)

That said, the not-so-good parts of the book for me could be something that makes another person want to read this story. I think this tends to happen with the more witchy/ethereal/folkloric stories I've read where they're more about the atmosphere and they're more character driven than plot driven.

I think if you know that going in, and if that's what you're looking for and enjoy, you'll probably get more out of this story than I did.

"The Witches at the End of the World" is a captivating tale that immerses readers in a world filled with magic and sibling bonds. While the story has its merits, the main character's juvenile behavior adds an interesting dynamic to the narrative.

Minna, the protagonist, displays a level of immaturity that may frustrate some readers. Her impulsive actions and vengeful nature are at times hard to comprehend. However, it's important to remember that Minna has endured significant trauma, having witnessed her mother's burning and being driven from her village. This background helps to understand her desperate need for revenge and the extent of her rage.

The author skillfully portrays Minna's internal struggle, showcasing her conflicting desires for community and justice. The contrast between Minna and her sister Kaija, who yearns for a more peaceful life, further highlights the complexity of Minna's character.

The informal writing style of the book adds an engaging touch to the narrative, making it accessible and relatable to readers. The plot moves at a steady pace, filled with suspense and tension that keeps you turning the pages. The magical elements are woven seamlessly into the story, creating a world that feels both familiar and enchanting.

"The Witches at the End of the World" is a spellbinding read that explores themes of loss, revenge, and the consequences of unchecked anger. While Minna's behavior may frustrate some readers, it is understandable given her circumstances. This book is recommended for those who enjoy dark fantasy and are drawn to flawed yet compelling characters.

The ending was the best part. Not a bad book, but for being a book about witch sisters, one who wants to keep away from the village that burned their mother and the other who desires to go back to the village and live, it was a bit dull for me. Not a bad book, just not as interesting for me as I expected.

I loved the premise but the execution of this book just did not work for me.

“The Witches at the End of the World” is about two witch sisters, Minna, the dark one full of rage and revenge, and Kaija, the light one who wants nothing more than comfort and security. They live in the birchwood in a remote part of Norway, caught between old gods and new ones who see nothing but trouble in strong women or anyone who’s different. One day Kaija runs away to the village to make a home for herself and Minna unleashes a devastating curse.

There was lots to like here. I thought the religious contrasts were fascinating. The two sisters were very typical of love/hate sibling relationships. I loved the feminist themes and strong female characters trying to make it in a patriarchal, still very ancient world.

But then it was just… that. The plot didn’t really go anywhere; not much happened in it. The story dragged to the point where it was a slog to get through. There was some beautiful writing describing the sisters, their motivations, witchcraft and feminism, but I felt like it was just that, a clever idea, interesting characters and a flat, kind of forgettable story. It would have worked better as a short story or novella.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Short synopsis: After the death of their mother caused by the village many years ago, two sisters (also witches) were raised by their grandmother in the isolation of the birchwood and taught the ways of their magic. But free their grandmother passes, the two sisters realise just how different they are from each other, one calm and longing for a life back around civilisation while the other is full of anger and wants to stay hidden. Told through a duel POV, you see just how the strong bond of sisters can be.

While I enjoyed this book, reading through it without hesitation or losing concentration, it definitely feels like it’s missing… something. It’s thorough in creating a image in the readers mind but some of the story gets caught up in it. I can’t help but wonder how much further the story been explored without if not for the picturesque descriptions.

If you like a slow, cozy book this could be for you. This is about a small family that falls a part due to differences, and learning to mend those relationships. The beginning of the book was very repetitive but this did change later. There were a couple parts of the story that jumped in time and it did throw me off, so I think the book would have benefited if there were headings that said “3 months later” for example. The ending was really good! It was wrapped up perfectly, and everything came back in full circle. This book personally wasn’t for me because I like a faster book, but if you like a village setting, witch craft, poetic style of writing and family dilemmas, then I think would enjoy it.

A FANTASTIC witchy read set in old Scandinavia about 2 sisters who could not be more different about how they see themselves and their magical gifts.

Thank you, Chelsea Iversen and Sourcebooks Fire, for providing me with an Arc through NetGalley! An e-book was provided before the release date in exchange for an honest review.

I was hoping to enjoy this book more than I had. Not that I didn’t like the book, but it took longer to read than it perhaps should have, given that the e-arc was only 265 pages. Chelsea Iversen has a beautiful way with words; however, the story itself falls flat. This is the author’s debut novel, so there is plenty of room for them to grow! I feel that giving the story more dialogue or a little less internal thought, especially for one of our sisters, Kaija, considering the people surrounding them.

I enjoyed how both sisters, Kaija and Minna, are fully fleshed-out characters after their things. It’s refreshing. However, the ‘I’m not like my sister’ got a little old afterwards. It felt like the love that was described initially didn’t even exist.

If your thing is historical witches, verses of description, and character lead plots, this book may be for you! I would recommend picking it up if you know this is your thing! I look forward to Chelsea Iversen’s future work!

I requested this book because the title sounded interesting, and the premise struck a chord with me.

As I began reading, I quickly realized this book was not for me due to a few reasons, all of which are personal preferences.

The story is written in the present tense and leans heavily on internal dialogue and recollection dumps. This pulled me out of the immediate action.
There was very little dialogue and repetitive subjects about the past, which detracted from the pacing.

Again, the language was very flowery and overly dramatic, a style preference.

If you are a fan of dramatic, witchy stories which lean on atmosphere and less on plot, this may be a book for you.