Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a stellar, near-perfect debut novel. It is WWII-era historical fiction, mixed with magical realism. It is also staunchly feminist, and provides a stark glimpse of the similarities between Hitler's rise and Trump's. And unlike many historical fiction novels or debuts, it avoids the biggest pitfalls and tropes: It does not use WWII as a backdrop for romance; it does not provide a bloodless, tragic, sterile view of war or the acts committed; while its FMC is young, she's not a rom-com trope or out to "find herself."

What's amazing about this debut effort is it reads like the work of an accomplished author. The characters are fully fleshed and compelling, the pacing is perfectly on point, and the story and world were richly written. I read it in two days, and had difficulty putting it down. This is 2025's best debut novel I've read- only Hayley Gelfuso's debut "The Book of Lost Hours" is as well done.

If you enjoyed Gareth Brown's "The Book of Doors," Kaliane Bradley's "The Ministry of Time," or Lev Grossman's "The Magicians" trilogy, you will love this book.

Hugely recommend!

WW2 & witchcraft makes for a fun historical fiction book. Lydia is a London born witch who was educated at the Royal Academy of Witches. Her mentor and leader of the Academy offers help in the war efforts to Churchill, leaving behind generations of hiding. After a grim event, they find out that the Nazis are recruiting witches to their own coven and are looking for a book that can hand the Nazis a swift and devastating end to the war. Betrayal, danger, witchcraft, voodoo, and a bit of French resistance follow as Lydia and two new friends fight to keep Nazi hands off the grimoire and survive the evil book itself. All together an enjoyable read.

My honest review of "A Resistance of Witches" by Morgan Ryan: a promising debut! This gem releases July 15th. The plot's refreshing blend of fantasy and historical events is what initially drew me in. The pacing was a bit uneven - the beginning and end were compelling, but the middle lagged slightly. The beautifully written ending made up for it. Recommended for historical fantasy fans, and I'm excited to see what this author does next!

Synopsis: “A historical fantasy debut set against the backdrop of WWII, where a witch journeys to find a book of unspeakable power before it lands in Nazi hands”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

This book had me hooked from the premise alone. Witches. World War II. Secret magical resistance fighting the literal Nazis? Say less.

Lydia gets pulled into this elite magical academy, and she’s got that whole “I didn’t ask to be important” vibe, but of course, she’s connected to something huge. There’s tension everywhere—between characters, in the politics, in the actual war, and definitely in the slow burn romance. Henry? Brooding, mysterious, smart. I did not trust him but I was invested.

The worldbuilding was super rich, and the stakes felt real. There’s magical history, wartime strategy, a cursed book that’s too powerful for anyone to touch—but obviously someone does. Some parts were a little slow, but I stayed in because the plot twists came hard when they hit.

It’s giving dark academia meets historical fantasy, but with more action and less pretension. If you like morally gray witches, found family, and books where you never quite know who to trust,

What a fantastical twist on resistance in WWII England! The witches of England are low key and largely out of sight, preferring not to be highly visible given England's past with burning witches and so on. But they still exist, and they still have power to be helpful in tough times, which 1940's England certain has with the Nazi's doing everything they can to demoralize and therefore conquer England. Lydia, a young witch who hasn't really stood out from the crowd, is included in a secret meeting with Churchill, which will have unintended consequences. The witches of England are now drawn into defending England from the Nazi's, and Lydia is key to that defence. Lydia's secret power is her ability to track down objects; the Nazi's have witches of their, and a powerful object in German which gives whoever can possess it and communicate with it's magic, the power to completely subjugate England. But not all the English witches are on board with getting involved, and there may be a traitor who will do anything to stop Lydia.

Clever and creative, and completely underestimating herself, Lydia goes to occupied France to find and destroy the sacred object known as the Grimorium Bellum before the Nazi witches can find it and use it to achieve Hitler's aim of taking over the world. Alone in France Lydia meets freedom fighter Rebecca and mysterious historian ) Henry with a perhaps a bit of magic of his own). The 3 band together and not knowing who else to trust, race against time to find and destroy the Grimorium Bellum. This book is a real page turner, the characters grabbed me from the beginning and the suspense of not knowing who can be trusted twists and turns with each turn of the page. A really clever and creative telling, un put downable, I absolutely loved this book, highly recommended!

This is a historical fantasy set in WWII with witches! I don’t really read a lot of fantasy’s that centers around witches and so this was a treat. It was a fun time.

I absolutely loved this book! Morgan Ryan is definitely on my writer's to watch list after this one. The history and the magic blended seamlessly, creating a tale that I did not want to step away from once I was immersed in it. Each character was so perfectly and thoughtfully drawn, they felt like my friends and I was sad to say goodbye to them. Such an impactful and timely story and done so brilliantly!

*Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Group|Viking for providing me with E ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*


What an intriguing and beautifully written debut!

I had a feeling that I was going to love this, just from reading the synopsis of the book. I love historical fiction and books about witches, so I couldn't help but be captivated by this story. This story blew me away from the first to the last page, and when I got to the end, I wished there had been more. A Resistance of Witches affected me in so many ways; there is so much I can rave about this story. I've been reading books about witches since middle school, and I'd say this was the most unique one I've ever read. I loved the characters, their backgrounds, the action, and, particularly, the magical world created by Morgan Ryan. There wasn't a single page where I wasn't captivated by the story; every page had me wondering what would happen next to Lydia, Rebecca, and Henry, and whether they would all survive.

A Resistance Of Witches is not a book you will be able to easily put down; I had trouble putting it down because I was so immersed in the story. There was so much going on that you couldn't help but turn the pages, and before you knew it, it was the middle of night. If it weren't for classes, I'd probably spend the whole night reading. I loved the way that author blended magic into the real world. The characters and their development throughout the story were amazing, especially Lydia, Rebecca, and Henry. Each of those characters had such depth, and the way they were written made them seem so real. I could say so much more what I loved about each of them, but I don’t want to give too much away. You will have to read for yourself to find out.

A Resistance Of Witches is one of the best combinations of historical fiction and fantasy I've read. I loved how she described the book's characters and setting. The relationships in this book, particularly family relationships, were beautifully written. Morgan Ryan is an author to look out for! I’m eager to see what adventures she will take us on next. Highly recommended for fans of historical fantasy.

I have read many, many books of historical fiction centered in and around WWII. I thought there were no WWII plots that could surprise me, much less pull me into the story and keep me there. I was wrong. The book cover compares A RESISTANCE OF WITCHES to A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, which was an excellent read, but I believe this one is better. The FMC, Lydia, is a standout character who's three-dimensional. She's 19, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, and is determined to fight the Nazi at every chance. The story is excellent, the writing superb, and the world-building excellent. I'm recommending Lydia and her coven to all of my reading friends, and I know a few of them that I'll be giving it to.

I loved everything about this book. It had me hooked from page one! The FMC Lydia... She is me and I am her! I found myself agreeing with almost every decision she made, which is rare for me when reading.

This is a WWII historical fiction with a fantasy twist, and honestly, I didn’t even know those two genres could work so well together. The story flowed beautifully. I appreciated that it didn’t constantly jump back and forth in time like some historical fiction tends to do. There weren’t many slow points at all, it was action-packed and kept me on edge wondering what would happen next.

That ending.... yeah I cried. And I do not cry over books often, so that says a lot. I’m honestly shocked this is Morgan Ryan’s debut novel. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to Net Galley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Superb! Highly recommended! A totally new take on WWII resistance. If you enjoy magic, you'll love A Resistance of Witches. Morgan Ryan is an author to watch.

An interesting story that ultimately fell a little flat for me. The premise is fun though and you'll definitely love the feminist rage within.

What a spellbinding debut! A Resistance of Witches was everything I love in historical fantasy—high stakes, layered characters, atmospheric writing, and magic that matters. Set against the haunting backdrop of WWII, this story blends real-world danger with eerie, supernatural twists in a way that felt completely original yet emotionally grounded.

Lydia Polk is not your typical chosen-one heroine, and I adored her for that. She’s stubborn, sharp, and deeply principled, even when she’s outmatched and underestimated. I felt the urgency of her mission at every turn—like the clock was ticking not just for her, but for the whole world. And wow, did the emotional weight of her journey hit. She’s grieving, she’s furious, she’s determined—and I rooted for her so hard.

The writing is gorgeously immersive—Morgan Ryan paints this version of WWII Europe with such vivid strokes that I could practically smell the candle wax in the war rooms and feel the cold stone of hidden passageways. The magic system is both haunting and elegant, and the Grimorium Bellum is the kind of terrifying artifact that gives me chills just thinking about it.

The trio of Lydia, Rebecca, and Henry absolutely shone. Rebecca brings fire and secrets and strength, while Henry’s calm intellect and quiet magic offer such a steadying presence (and okay, the chemistry? Delicious.). The way they bonded in the face of danger, distrust, and heartbreak made their journey feel all the more real.

This book never once lost its momentum—the pacing was so consistent, and every twist raised the stakes just enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. But what elevated it beyond just a gripping story was the heart—the themes of sacrifice, resistance, legacy, and power resonated long after I turned the final page.

If you like your fantasy steeped in history, laced with danger, and led by unlikely heroes, A Resistance of Witches is one to add to the top of your TBR. I’m already hoping this is the start of a series, because Lydia Polk’s story is one I’m not ready to let go of.

I really enjoyed this one! A spellbinding story about love, loyalty, and yes WITCHES set during WWII. The characters were interesting and I loved the way that they magical world was kind of folded into the real world of the time. If you're a fan of historical fiction with a dash of magic, pick this one up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I adore historical fantasy and A Resistances of Witches was 100% what I was looking for.

A Resistance of Witches asks the question of, what if WWII took place in a world where magic was real and it played a role in the conflict. The witches of Britain are putting up the good fight against the coven who are doing Hitler's bidding. Given Hitler's interest in the mystical, this is such an intriguing premise and I think Ryan executed it brilliantly. Fast paced, with great characters, I was immediately drawn into the world building and couldn't put this one down.

Sadly, this was more of a miss than a hit for me. I do think that the author was doing some really interesting things with the alternate World War II history here--specifically, the decision to include witchcraft as an established (if underground and hidden) part of this universe, and then have Hitler enlisting witches for nefarious purposes. Given Hitler's well-documented obsession with the occult, this makes the kind of sense that leads to really great storytelling! Which unfortunately leads into my main problem with this book: the worldbuilding just fell really flat for me. Everything felt just a touch underdeveloped: there's a secret academy for witches in Britain, but I didn't know what its purpose was, apart from keeping the secrets of witchcraft alive in a world where witches have to live in hiding. The villains of the novel--a coven of German witches working for Hitler--were similarly murky: for most of the book, their motivations are left unexplained, leading me, as the reader, to assume that they're simply the type of Germans who align with the Third Reich's horrible rhetoric (and happen to be witches). More than halfway through the novel, we get a convoluted explanation of how these witches actually don't necessarily align with Hitler's beliefs. Indeed, they all have harrowing backstories of being persecuted for being witches, and Hitler is just their means of seizing power for witches worldwide so that they can live publicly...except that multiple times in the text we see these villainous witches gleefully speaking of the planned deaths of Jewish, queer, and Romani people. It's confusing and, frankly, a little iffy to try and spin sympathy for these Nazi witches and point out that they are victims of fictional persecution--although to its credit, these harrowing backstories do not make them the subject of any sympathy from any of the main characters, who never regard them as anything but the evil Nazis they are.

I did like the two secondary POV characters, Rebecca and Henry--Rebecca is queer, Jewish, and a member of the French Resistance, while Henry is a Haitian-American art curator who can see and interact with ghosts. Frankly they were both more interesting than the main character, Lydia, although I found her likable as well. There was also a lot more action in this book than I expected, and that action was surprisingly satisfying and fast-paced! On the whole, however, the questions and issues I had with this book bogged it down, and despite a LOT happening at the end, it felt like it was dragging. I definitely think fans of Weyward by Emilia Hart and The Witches of New York by Ami McKay will enjoy this a lot--it just wasn't for me.

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan is a phenomenal witchy historical fantasy.
An intriguing story that was wonderfully written.
The character development was awesome.
I was surprised by how much I truly enjoyed reading this book.

<u><b>A Resistance of Witches</b></u>
Morgan Ryan
Publication Date: July 15, 2025

ARC courtesy of Viking and NetGalley.

Set in World War II, main character Lydia Polk and the witches of Britain battle Nazis and the witches of the Third Reich in a search for a powerful grimoire, the <i>Grimorium Bellum</i>. Witches, historical fiction, WWII Nazis – this is unadulterated catnip.

<i>A Resistance of Witches</i> is Morgan Ryan’s debut novel. From the character and world-building to the plot development, this is a remarkable debut indeed, reminiscent of Emilia Hart’s <i>Weyward</i>. Ryan’s enthralling writing and quick pacing kept me turning the pages; I devoured this book in a little over a day. Sure to please fans of Deborah Harkness and Emilia Hart.

This outstanding debut novel by Morgan Ryan has everything — action! danger! betrayal! heartbreak! love! — wrapped in a desperate, life-or-death mission with a touch of Raiders of the Lost Ark vibes. It’s a classic battle of Good vs Evil, the darkest kind of fairytale with the highest of stakes. On the side of the angels, British witches fighting for the Allies; on the fascist side, Nazi witches working for Hitler. They want to annihilate their enemies, destroy everything they disagree with, and rule the world. The prize they’re all searching for is an ancient grimoire, an incredibly evil and powerful weapon, and it soon becomes clear, this is probably a suicide mission for the good guys. The action is nonstop, the danger is terrifying, and it is impossible to put this book down!

From the first scene — Grand Mistress Isadora and young apprentice Lydia on the way to meet with Churchill — I was all in, immediately intrigued by the characters and invested in the story. And as is only right for a tale set in the dark days of World War II, there are moments of violence, bravery and hopelessness, horror and totally heart-stopping moments. It’s absolutely cinematic, told so well it was like I was there, too... which is about the highest compliment I can give.

The main characters are captivating. They’re brave, battered, overwhelmed and outgunned, and I felt every second of it. I love how this found family kept risking everything for each other! Lydia, the self-doubting yet bold and determined British witch; Rebecca, the French Resistance fighter full of secrets and rage; and Henry, the Haitian American art curator, so steadfast and strong. They each carry a ton of grief and heartbreak but keep going no matter what. So much tension, danger and sacrifice... so perfectly evoked by the author. Everything was on the line, the future of the world no less, and I felt all of it. This is An Experience. Wow.

I enthusiastically recommend this book, whether you’re into adventure, sci-fi, supernatural, historic, or war stories, there’s something for you to love! This thrilling story is so smart and compelling, written so assuredly, it’s honestly amazing that it’s a debut. All I can say is Congratulations, Ms. Ryan! I’ll be eagerly awaiting anything else you write.

All opinions are my own but thanks NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review.

4.75 🌟 rounded up

Yes, please. This is what I want in WWII historical fiction. This is what I've been missing.

I loved the FMC, Lydia. She's loyal, stubborn, and relatable. Her companions, Henry and Rebecca, are admirable as well. As you'd expect, this book is full of heartbreak. War is ugly, and it shows. The author doesn't shy away from the violence, death, and destruction from the Nazis. Not everything gets wrapped up in a pretty little bow. Even with the magic woven throughout the narrative, I appreciated the realness of the thoughts, actions, and devastations of the time period.

In one word - incredible. I'm amazed that this is a debut novel. The book world needs to look out for more from Morgan Ryan, and I absolutely will, too.

Recommended for readers who love witchy fantasy mixed with historical fiction - a combo I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC.