Hekate only knows a world in turmoil. Since her parents were on the losing side of the war between the Titans and the Olympians, she is sent to the Underworld, where Styx and Hades raise her. Through a series of unlikely occurrences, Hekate discovers her powers and becomes a Goddess. The Olympians do not welcome her powers, but when a new war breaks out, they may be what is needed to bring the fighting to an end.

Hekate: The Witch is NOT a retelling of this story; it is an EXPANSION of the story. Gill has taken a lesser-known Goddess and given readers a tale that weaves together the usual cast of Gods and Goddesses and leaves the reader with a better understanding of how things may have occurred. A fun read for all mythology fans.

This edition is amazing. I thought that being in verse it wouldn't create much depth to the story, but the character and journey were presented in an epic way. Congrats to the author for that. An homage to Hekate, origin, journey, lore, and choices, unsung before but told in this book with power, inspiring, and easy-to-read adventure. Hekate and her love for humans were always one of my favorite characters.

(also posted to B&N)

A big thank you to Little, Brown books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. As always, it is a pleasure.

This book is a powerful reimagining of death, myth, and womanhood, seen through the eyes of Hekate, the last remaining titan goddess in a world ruled by Olympians. The hard hitting themes of death, loss and the afterlife are not just mystical ideas here, but emotional landscapes that Gill explores with grace and clarity.

The pacing is steady, and the prose is simple yet lyrical. It’s easy to read, but still filled with weight and symbolism. It’s a thoughtful, layered narrative that takes its time, occasionally feeling a bit long, but always offering something worthwhile. I think the length allows the emotional arc to deepen, especially as Hekate confronts loss, liminality, and power from the shadows.

What makes this book special is its fresh perspective. Gill doesn’t just retell Greek mythology’s she reclaims it. Hekate isn’t a side character in someone else’s story, she’s the heart of this one. Her voice is ancient, but also current, making this feel like a timeless story with a modern pulse.
It’s a journey worth taking, raw, reflective, and ultimately empowering. A striking ode to the forgotten goddess who walks with the dead, lights the way in the dark, and reminds us that there is beauty even in endings. The book is due out in September and for fans of mythology, this is a must read and the start of a fantastic new series.

Thanks to Little Brown and Hachette Audio for the preview. All opinions are my own.

I’ve never read a novel in verse before, and my brain was struggling with it, so I was so thrilled to get the audio. I feel like Gill narrating their own work is how this should be experienced.

I think fans of Circe will especially enjoy this story. We get Hekate’s tale from her first experiences and her mother’s sacrifice for her at the end of the war between the Titans and Olympians. And throughout, the story explores family, mother-daughter relationships, sacrifice and love, and the capricious nature of the gods. I loved the triumph of Hekate claiming her powers and her own control over her life.

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

'Hungry children eat anything you give them. An ounce of kindness. The most broken love. Even a crumb is enough when you are hungry. You take what is given and say thank you.'

What a beautiful story! I love anything Greek mythology inspired but this really takes the cake. Gills words were fully immersive. Hekate really shines as she steps into her power that even olympians fear. Loved every second of this! A must read.

Nikita Gill is one of my favorite poets and she brings her beautiful prose to this verse novel following lesser known Greek goddess Hekate.

With lush and engrossing descriptions, Gill takes us on an epic journey through the underworld, providing a fresh perspective to an old mythology and conveying fascinating themes about purpose and companionship.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for this ARC!

I have been a fan of Nikita Gill’s poetry for quite some time and was excited to see her upcoming release, Hekate. Gill approached the story engagingly as a YA retelling and the verses were beautifully written. I know a little about Greek mythology, but was so drawn into the narrative that my gals in knowledge didn’t hamper my enjoyment.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

"Perhaps this is what womanhood was. The dangerous knowledge of who you are and what you could do with that power when pushed."

If you are interested in Greek mythology, witchcraft, or stories about powerful women, don't hesitate to pick up this book. The poetry format works very well with the story; it moves quickly and provides enough detail/imagery to keep you immersed in the story. I actually think it would've been a bit of a slog if it had been a full novel.

✨ARC Review✨
Hekate by Nikita Gill – ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This was such a fantastic novel-in-verse that tells the story of the birth of a goddess and her journey to truly blossom into her own power. 🌙
Gill captures Hekate in all her forms—the torchbearer, the guide, the witch mother, the guardian of thresholds—and honors the three-faced goddess with such reverence. The language is lyrical, powerful, and deeply moving.
Whether you’re brand new to her story, a lifelong devotee, or someone who sees her as your own deity, this book will speak to you. It’s a stunning celebration of resilience, transformation, and divine strength. 🖤
Huge thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! 💌 Hekate releases on September 16, 2025—add it to your TBR now!

Unfortunately DNFed. I absolutely adore Greek mythology, but the way this was written was not for me. The poetic sentence structure made me feel very removed from the story and I wish I had known going in that the book was written this way

Nikita Gill’s Hekate offers a lyrical and imaginative retelling of the goddess’s origin, re-envisioning her life not just as a side figure in Greek myth, but as a heroine with her own coming-of-age story. The premise is captivating—Hekate, abandoned during the Titanomachy, must carve out a place for herself in the underworld and learn to wield her power against the Olympians who reshaped the world.

Gill’s strength lies in her prose. The writing is vivid, poetic, and at times feels like an invocation—well-suited for a character as enigmatic as Hekate. The book succeeds in giving voice to a goddess often overlooked, layering her journey with themes of loss, resilience, and self-discovery. The underworld setting and appearances of figures like Styx and Hades add an alluring darkness to the tale.

Where the book falters, however, is in its execution as a novel. The story often feels more like a series of beautifully written vignettes than a fully realized narrative. The pacing drifts, the conflicts resolve too quickly, and Hekate’s emotional journey doesn’t always land with the depth its subject deserves. For readers who come for Gill’s lyrical style, this may be more than enough—but those looking for a tightly woven, novelistic retelling may find it unsatisfying.

Verdict: A gorgeously written but uneven myth retelling that highlights Hekate’s strength and humanity while struggling to balance poetry with plot. Worth exploring for fans of Gill’s prose and myth-inspired storytelling, though it may not linger as long as the goddess herself deserves.

I’m not the biggest fan of poetry, but I love Greek mythology so I wanted to give this a try. However, this didn’t really exactly read like poetry to me, which kind of threw me off. It’s more so that there are complete sentences
with random line breaks
throughout them
to give it some kind
of poetic effect.
Also, this being written in verse made it difficult for me to completely immerse myself in the story. Plus, it moved pretty slow and I don’t feel like much actually happened.

Nevertheless, Hekate has always intrigued me, so I did enjoy reading about her. Though, being a retelling, I’m not sure how accurate this is based on what I do know about Greek mythology — but I guess regardless it’s just the author’s take on the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC!

As a Godling, she was ripped away from her palace and the only person she ever called “home” - her mother. Forced to separate and live a life in the Underworld, Hekate found comfort in the mortal dead, mastered her witchcraft by experimenting with different items throughout the realm, and was able to undo the Gods work with just a touch of her fingers. Hekate became the most beautiful and powerful Goddess of Witchcraft and Necromancy - who was able to bring fear into even the strongest of Gods.

While the formatting may not be for everyone, I actually found it more intriguing as it gave time to draw the readers in and really think between the lines. The writing was both lyrical and poetic and spoke volumes in terms of what people endure daily, especially children of war and who are parentless. Each written word thoroughly enticed me and Nikita Gill practically had me eating out of her palms with how well the story flowed. There was friendship, drama, secrets and betrayals, prophecies, longing, grief, and a touch of romance.

If you enjoy a good retelling of Greek mythology and want to take a trip to the Underworld, I highly recommend Hekate as your next read!

As a huge fan of Greek mythology, I was really happy to receive an ARC about one of the less famous Greek goddesses. Nikita Gill did a fantastic job creating such a lush and enchanting tale of grief, love, and womanhood in this book.
I was initially skeptical about the verse format of the book, especially since there didn't appear to be a set rhythm or rhyme scheme. However, I found myself getting used to it, and I don't think the story would have had the same impact in prose form as it did in verse.
I was slightly confused at the chronology of the book - for example, Hades kidnapping Persephone after the Trojan War had already happened. In all, though, this was a wonderful reimagining of the story of Hekate and the Greek gods.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the eARC!

This is one of my more anticipated reads for the year, and i was so excited to get an arc.
I really enjoyed this and the verse writing made it feel more true to its origins.
I love Hekate, and I feel like this retelling portrays her well. It’s beautiful, haunting, and sometimes heartbreaking, but also empowering, just like Gills poetry.

The story itself could have been quite good, but the writing in verse wasn’t for me. The poetry felt
random like the
author just didn’t feel like
writing a regular book
(maybe because of the length of
a full book)
so they’re were just lots of unnecessary
line breaks.

As someone who normally does not enjoy poetry, this was actually extremely enlightening and interesting to read. The subject matter appealed to me and I suspended judgement and I am so glad I did. The writing was wondering, and really transported you to the land of the Gods and told a beautiful tale of a Goddess that I was less than familiar with. Even though it was poetry which I have a hard time reading, it was beautiful, engaging, and brought the story to life and the poetry added to this. If you love a good mythological retelling and want to learn about a lesser known goddess [than, say, Athena!] I would highly recommend this book.

This ebook was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

✨ Review: Hekate by Nikita Gill ✨

Greek mythology has always been one of my favorite playgrounds to revisit, and Nikita Gill gave us a stunning reason to return. Told entirely in verse, Hekate is both beautiful and brutal—a coming-of-age story of a goddess born in the shadow of war and raised in the depths of the Underworld.

We follow Hekate from her uncertain childhood to the moment she claims her power as a necromancer, and it’s impossible not to root for her. She’s empathetic, fierce, and determined to carve out a place for herself in a pantheon that would rather pretend she doesn’t exist. I loved the way Gill fleshed out figures like Thanatos, Styx, and even Hades—gods often painted as cold or cruel were given nuance, kindness, and depth here.

Now, the entire story being written in poetry was a bit of a hurdle for me personally—it’s not my easiest reading style—but once I settled into the rhythm, it fit the myth perfectly. The lyrical prose gave the tale an otherworldly, timeless quality, like it was meant to be sung by the Fates themselves.

Overall, this was a phenomenal retelling that balances accuracy with heart. Hekate is too often pushed to the sidelines of mythology, and this book finally gives her the spotlight she deserves. A solid 4 stars from me—only because verse slows me down—but honestly, if you love Greek mythology, you need this one on your shelf.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hekate (Deluxe Limited Edition)
by Nikita Gill
Pub Date: Sep 16 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In a stunning reimagining of Greek myth for fans of Circe and Lore, Nikita Gill showcases the underworld and its chthonic deities in all their glory in this first book in an exciting trilogy, weaving a gripping story about the young goddess coming of age within their midst.


Hekate sings the story of its eponymous heroine. Born into a world on fire and at war, she and her mother are left behind by the menfolk of their Titan family as the battle against the new Gods–the Olympians–begins. Soon, Hekate and her mother are forced to flee their home as the Olympians overpower and enslave the Titans, including Hekate’s father, Perses, and gain dominion over the universe. In a bid to protect Hekate from the clutches of Zeus and Poseidon, her mother leaves her in the underworld with the goddess Styx and king of the underworld, Hades, where she must make a life for herself and discover her divine purpose.

Here begins Nikita Gill’s beautiful and propulsive reimagining of Hekate’s myth which unfolds into a coming-of-age adventure story and quest in which our young protagonist – not yet a goddess – sets out to discover what has happened to her parents, heal from the trauma of her separation from them, make a new home for herself in the underworld, and, eventually, step into her true power as a woman and goddess, before it’s too late.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book!

DNF'ed.

I grew up on Percy Jackson which spawned my love for Greek mythology and which was why I requested this book. Thanks to Percy Jackson, I knew who Hecate was and I was intrigued by a different take on it. Hecate is a very interesting figure in Greek mythology as she's the Titan of magic. The Titans are portrayed quite negatively in Greek mythology so this book was like a reversal of images in the Titans vs Gods conflict found in many Greek myths.

I actually didn't know it was written in-verse when requesting it and I don't think I would've requested it had I known because I'm not particularly a fan of novels in-verse except for a couple exceptions and I have read and enjoyed The Odyssey.

The issue I have
with most in-verse novels
is that
making a new line
every couple words
is not really poetry

Unfortunately this book fell into that in terms of writing because my philosophy with in-verse novels is that the poetry should read as actual poetry and not complete sentences with line breaks every couple words and the poetry should actually add something to the writing. Some of these in-verse novels come across as being written as poetry to be *unique* without any effort into actually crafting prose. Additionally, while I expected it, the writing was just to flowery for my liking.

I did like the paragraphs inserted between verses but I felt like these paragraphs were difficult to read because they weren't broken up enough and frankly kind of chunky.

Overall, I can see the potential in this story but I just didn't like the writing style.