I WANT MORE. I need more! I have always been a fan of Nikita Gills work and this beautiful Greek Mythology retellingsolidified it. Huge fan of lyrical prose! I saw some reviewers had a hard time following along as it’s written in verse, but to be quite honest, I had no issue.
As someone who respects and has always had interest in Hekate, this was a fantastic read. It starts by following the Titanomachy! The war between the Titans and Olympians. How Hekate and her mother, Asteria, had to flee their home and seek refuge from the Underworld. Asteria makes the ultimate sacrifice to keep her daughter safe from Zeus and Poseidon. Hekate is then known as a Child of War.
Hekate is then left isolated and feeling lost. She starts questioning what purpose she has a Godling, as no one around her helps her find her path. Everyone is keeping secrets from her. So, she then decides to seek it herself. That leads her to come across Thanatos, god of peaceful death and son of Nyx. She finds friendship in him and Charon, The Ferryman.
Hekate is the goddess of witches and magic, guidance in crossroads and protector of women. Necromancer and mostly known as the three-formed deity—maiden, mother and crone.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

What a BEAUTIFUL masterpiece. I can't wait to recommend this one to my bookish bats. This story is full of female rage and empowerment, intense growth, and self-discovery.

The Vibes:
Greek Mythology
Loss and Betrayal
Coming Of Age
Story in Verse
Female Empowerment
Healing From Trauma

Thank you to Nikita Gill, Little, Brown Young Readers, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for this Advanced Audio Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hekate is a mesmerizing reimagining of Greek myth that unfolds as both a coming-of-age tale and a quest for self-hood in the shadows of gods and war. Nikita Gill captures Hekate’s birth into chaos, her exile, and her slow rise into power with lyrical, vivid prose that blends myth and emotion in equal measure.

The narrative takes you from the Titanomachy’s burning aftermath, through the underworld’s dark halls, and into the heart of what it means to be more than what you were told you’d become. Hekate’s journey—from child to goddess—is fraught with loss, betrayal, longing, and fierce self-discovery. The way Gill draws out her internal world, her fear and anger, her love and rage, all while surrounded by gods who wield power like weapons, is both heartbreaking and beautiful.

The themes of family, power, identity, and transformation are handled with grace: not sugarcoated, but never cruel for cruelty’s sake. There are tender moments as well—friendships, love, discovery—that balance the weightier, darker parts. The lyrical structure of the book gives a sense of ritual, of myth retold, and each line feels intentional, almost sacred.

Final Thoughts: If you love mythology retellings with lyrical prose, emotional complexity, and a hero’s journey that doesn’t shy away from darkness, Hekate is a standout. Gill’s book is immersive, haunting, and ultimately triumphant—a myth reborn. Highly recommended.

The Greek goddesses have been heavily featured in novels over the past decade or so, but to my knowledge no one has written a novel about Hekate yet, who I believe is one of the most fascinating of the Greek gods! Because this book is written in verse, it's a quick read. There are more parallels to today than I expected before I started reading, so I think the author did a great job telling Hekate's story for today's audience.

I read the e-arc for Hekate by Nikita Gill and I loved it. To be honest, I adore Greek mythology and Greek myth retellings, but I did not know a lot about Hekate. I think this story is brilliantly written. I loved learning about Hekate and her gifts and the role she played in the Hades and Persephone story. I can't wait for my preorder to arrive so I have it for my shelf because I think the cover is gorgeous and this is one of my favorite books of the year so far. Thank you to #NetGalley and #LittleBrownBooks This book comes out September 16, 2025. I recommend reading the book. 4.5 stars.

Hekate is a beautiful, sweeping story about how Hekate grows up and comes into her power as a goddess. She learns much about herself and how to interact with the world around her in a way that leaves both her and the world better than they were before. The way this story is written in verse is gorgeous and kept me wanting more the whole time. This was an exquisite read and I didn't want to put it down!

It's been a long time since I'd read anything about Hekate, but I really quite enjoyed the way Nikita Gill imagines her here. Telling it through verse gives it that lyrical quality of mythology while still telling the story of Hekate's life. There are some incredible quotes about being a child of war and what womanhood means. I think this story is really accessible too, designed for teens to be able to read and enjoy and familiarize themselves with Greek Gods and Titans.

If you enjoy Circe or Lore Olympus, this is an absolute must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Hekate is a well-crafted, exceptional edition to the contemporary genre of myth retellings. I admit I was skeptical at first of the verse style, but Gill manages to make it work without losing characterization or narrative structure. The further into the novel I reached, the better it became. Gill seemed to have found more confidence in the story as it progressed. The second half of the novel is captivating and well done. I especially liked the inclusion of Hekate's involvement in Persephone's story. Well done! I will be recommending Hekate to those who enjoy contemporary myth retellings.

As much as I love poetry and the story of Hekate, I felt as though this wasn’t executed well. The story felt a bit choppy and didn’t flow as well as I think it could have. Beautiful prose, however.

Content Warning: violence, separated from parents

+ When I started reading this arc and realized it was poetry – I was hesitant on how much I was going to enjoy this because I don’t read poetry and so I was really unsure about this. But I’m surprised to say, for someone like myself who read Greek mythology retellings and it’s a hit or miss, mostly miss – the way this one is written really worked for me! It’s written in verse and then some parts in paragraphs.

+ Greek mythology is not my favorite thing and I don’t know why. I like knowing what they are gods and goddesses of but to remember all their stories? I just never was interested. But I requested this book because this was about Hekate and I didn’t know much about her. And the title says The Witch and I was intrigued. I love how this book sucked me in with Hekate telling her story from when she was a child to when she is grown.

+ I loved Hekate’s journey. She’s a child of Titans and it touches on the war between the Titans and Olympus, and then later on where Olympians fight the giants and ask for Hekate’s help. I loved her growth and getting to know her power with necromancy. I love that she was a witch and had an apothecary.

+ I thought her relationship with Styx, who is basically her adoptive parent was complicated. Styx wanted to protect her but Hekate only naturally had questions and wanted to be stretch her boundaries. The story touched on the sacrifices mothers make and I related to that.

~ The poetry and verse worked for me but I know that it won’t for everyone.

Final Thoughts:

If you love Greek mythology, definitely give this one a read. I enjoyed it a lot and I’m not someone who loves Greek mythology. But I love Hekate’s story and I’m glad I learned more about her.

Hekate by Nikita Gill is a beautifully haunting collection that blends myth, magic, and raw emotion in ways that linger long after you close the book. Her words have this incredible ability to feel intimate and cosmic all at once, pulling you into the world of gods, witches, and shadowed power while also reflecting on human emotion and resilience. I especially loved how the poetry balances darkness and hope—there’s grief, longing, and anger, but also moments of strength and transcendence that hit so hard.

The structure and flow of the poems make it easy to get lost in, and each piece carries its own weight and rhythm. Some poems had me pausing to reflect, while others made me want to read them aloud, savoring every line. It’s the kind of book you can come back to over and over, finding new meaning each time.

Overall, Hekate is a striking, evocative journey into mythology and the human heart. Nikita Gill’s lyricism and emotional depth make this a memorable read that I’ll be returning to again and again. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

As a fan of Nikita Gill's poetry books (Great Goddess, Where Hope Comes From, etc) this is the first novel in verse I have read of hers. I loved the story even though I felt it kind of started out slow. It was meaningful and flowed well. I had a hard time understanding why she structured it the way she did and spent too much of that time trying to figure it out, but once I got pass that, I really enjoyed the tale she told. She is obviously very knowledgeable on Greek lore, but puts her own spin on it. Hekate seems to be a love letter to mothers and a comfort for displaced children.

I’ve always really enjoyed Nikita Gill’s poetry and prose and I’m a very big fan of mythology retellings so I was incredibly excited for this book. I went in with very little knowledge of Hekate as a goddess so everything was new to me which made it really mysterious and intriguing. I loved seeing Hekate realize her full power and potential. I really liked seeing her explore the Underworld and interact with Styx, Hades and Hermes. This book was INCREDIBLY atmospheric and I really did feel like I was walking the Elysian Fields and Asphodel Meadows or feeling the darkness of Tartarus. If you’re a fan of Nikita Gill or like me, you enjoy a female centric Greek myth retelling, this one’s for you!

Thank you to The Novl for the digital reader’s copy!

First of all I wish I could give this more than 5 stars! I'm always hesitant about Greek retellings because sometimes they kind of drag along and the way in which they are written makes it hard for me. However #Hekate:TheWitch by #NikitaGill is probaby the best retelling that is centered on Greek Mythology that I have ever read. I am so grateful that I had the opertunity to read this because I am gunshy about these types of books and don't know if I ever would have bought it, after this though I intend on adding it to my collection.

Hekate's story is written in verse in her honor. It begins with the war on the Titans. Her story is sad and poignant. I learned of Gods and Goddesses that I don't remember having heard of before and of course got to meet new versions of so many I already know. The love that Hekate has for her parents carry through life along with all of the trials of being one of the last Titan born children hiding from The Gods of Olympus. She is raised in the underworld by the Goddess Styx and in being hidden she is never told what her divinity is. So she goes on travels to find out who and what she is, in the process she meets Thanatos The God of Death and Hermes the messenger of Olympus. Living in the world that she does you never know who you can trust.

Hekate ends beautifully. I hope that #NikitaGill writes more like this in the future! Thank you to 3LittleBrownBooks for the chance to read the eArc #Hekate:TheWitch in return for a fair and honest review.

🌑✨ Book Review | Hekate: The Witch by Nikita Gill ✨🌑

🔥 “Perhaps this is what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power if pushed.”

Nikita Gill has done it again, this time with a fierce, lyrical retelling of Hekate, the goddess of witchcraft and necromancy. Told in Gill’s signature verse style, this book feels both ancient and modern: a story rooted in Greek myth, yet pulsing with relevance for today.

Born a child of war, orphaned, and raised in the Underworld by Hades and Styx, Hekate’s journey is one of survival, transformation, and power. She grows from a girl desperate to belong into a goddess the Olympians themselves fear. Her story is a testament to resilience, womanhood, and the cost of wielding power in a world ruled by men and gods alike.

🖤 What I loved:
🌌 The verse-style storytelling. lyrical, haunting, and unforgettable.
👑 Female empowerment woven through every line.
⚔️ Brutality & beauty of the gods, portrayed in stark contrast.
🌑 Hekate’s transformation into a force even Olympus can’t ignore.
💔 Themes of sacrifice, family, and finding your purpose in the darkness.

If you loved Circe by Madeline Miller or Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, you need this book on your shelves. Hekate’s story isn’t just a myth retold, it’s a reclamation of power, of rage, of womanhood.

📅 Release Date: September 16, 2025
🏷️ Genres: Fantasy • Mythology • Poetry • Retelling • Feminism
✨ Vibes: Gothic, empowering, hauntingly beautiful

Gill reminds us that the Underworld is not just a place of death, but of rebirth and Hekate is the goddess who stands at the threshold.

📖 Favorite Quote:
"Perhaps this is what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power if pushed."

#HekateTheWitch #NikitaGill #NetGalley #FantasyRetelling #MythologyBooks #GreekMythology #CirceVibes #FeministFantasy #WomenInMyth #RomantasyReads #PoetryBooks #MythRetelling #DarkFeminism #WitchyReads #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #UpcomingReleases2025

This was a pleasure to read!

I didn’t know much going into this but I love reading about Greek mythology, especially the Gods and Goddesses so when I saw this one was about Hekate I knew I wanted to read it right away!

Also have to mention the cover caught my attention immediately as it’s absolutely stunning!

I wasn’t expecting the whole book to be written in prose but it was such a pleasant surprise! I haven’t read a book written like this in a while so it’s refreshing to see it again.

I love the journey we got to see Hekate go through from childhood to adulthood. She suffered so much and never forgot about her family. She was always searching for her purpose to hopefully be able to free her parents one day.

Hekate starts off in the beginning of the book as a small children who is fearful of everything but as the book progresses she turns into the powerful Goddess she is meant to be and all the Gods are fearful of her! However, the humans are not fearful and they seem to worship her since she helps them out.

I loved reading about her helping out the puppy, Kore, and the human army she built. She had so much drive to do better and be better.

The side love story with Thanatos was so sweet and beautiful too. I wasn’t expecting this as I don’t remember any myths with this two but it was still really sweet!

Overall I really enjoyed this book! I only wish we had gotten more of Hekate through adulthood since most of the book was her childhood.

I will definitely be buying this one it comes out!

Thank you to netgalley for the advance reading copy!

In Nikita Gill's "Hekate," we find a vibrant reimagining of Greek myth, focusing on the journey of a young goddess coming into her power amidst the turmoil of war and divine conflict. Gill masterfully weaves a tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the forging of identity in the face of adversity.

The narrative breathes new life into the character of Hekate, portraying her not just as a goddess, but as a relatable figure grappling with loss, identity, and the search for belonging. The vivid depiction of the underworld and its deities offers a fresh perspective on familiar myths, making the story both engaging and thought-provoking.

Gill's writing shines in its ability to blend the epic scope of mythology with intimate, personal moments, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with contemporary themes of empowerment and self-acceptance. "Hekate" is a must-read for fans of mythology and those seeking a story of a heroine's journey to find her place in a world of gods and monsters.

Format: digital and audio
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First of all, I highly recommend to do this as an immersive read!

Overall:
The story, the characters, and the setting were amazing. I love a good mythology retelling. This time, it was about Hekate, a lesser known character in the not-Pantheon of Greek gods. What was cool about this whole novel was seeing all the other more popular gods from a different point of view. If you like reading mythology or its retellings, then I highly recommend this!

I did think that the format of writing this in verse was a bit distracting and detracted from the overall story. And maybe it's because I'm not used to this format? The author talked about why she used the verse form in her introduction. It makes perfect sense, but I could totally imagine this as an immersive novel or even a graphic novel -- now this one I would totally buy! The setting was pretty visceral and epic and would make for good visuals.

Audiobook version:
Single narrator. Read by the author.

The audiobook infused the story with life and I really liked her accent. The characters were differentiated and I could tell who was saying what. The only gripe I have is that I wish the introduction, which was available in the written version, was included in the audiobook. If you go into this without any context that this book is in verse form, it would feel disjointed whenever there was a long pause because you wouldn't really know that the long pause was like a chapter heading for each verse grouping.

Did I already mention that I highly recommend to do this as an immersive read?!

I enjoyed Nikita Gill’s Hekate, The Witch is a striking retelling of the goddess’s story, written in her signature lyrical verse. The book follows Hekate from her origins as the child of fallen Titans through loss, displacement, and grief, toward her rise as a powerful goddess of witchcraft and the crossroads.

What makes this retelling stand out is how Gill gives Hekate a strong voice and agency, reclaiming a figure often overlooked in mythology. The verse format adds intensity, making the story feel both timeless and modern. Themes of resilience, identity, and survival come through clearly, and the mythic world feels vivid and alive.

Overall, Hekate is an empowering and beautifully written story that blends myth with emotion in a way that only Gill can deliver. It’s perfect for readers who love mythology, poetry, and fierce female-centered storytelling.

I actually really appreciated the structure of the novel - using verse instead of prose. I know the author's note at the beginning mentioned she did it in deference to Hekate's love of poetry, but I think there's also something to be said about the fact that epic poetry, which I think this resembles, was how stories like this were told and passed down.

It was a little more difficult to immerse myself in the story the way I would for a prose book, just by nature of its sparsity. There was less atmospheric description or detail, the kinds of things that I think normally pull a reader in. It also moves a lot quicker, so the reader has less time to pause and sit with certain sections of the plot the way they might in a prose novel. I can see how that would turn off certain readers, especially fans of high fantasy who might otherwise be drawn to this work.

Still, I really enjoyed it.