I liked the way the author revealed the reason why Orlando, who as a shapeshifter, should have been powerful with magic, could not perform magic/witchcraft and could not even shift at will. I also liked how the author dealt with the issue of Orlando being nonbinary. It was interesting that shifters could change gender appearance but were encouraged to choose a resting form that was gender specific, so they fit in with societal expectations about gender.

I enjoyed this YA romantasy! The premise is fascinating: a nonbinary "shifter" teams up with a powerful witch to bring their girlfriend back from the dead...but the witch is so sexy they fall in love instead!!! I especially love the way Hinds explores gender & the MC, Orlando's (hah) dysphoria. Orlando is constantly "shifting" into different physical forms, in a way that reminds me of David Levithan's "Every Day," but like...Hinds' execution is far more nuanced & interesting. (Also I'm pretty sure Levithan's book gets kinda problematic? IDK I read it a decade ago.)

The romance between Lando & Bastien has a nice build-up (important) and the third-act breakup makes sense (also important). But!!! I do think this magical world feels MUCH bigger/more complex than what Hinds has time/space to explore in a single book. Witchlore should be twice as long. Or maybe a duology? There are soooo many elements that I want to know more about, like the shifter/witch animosity, Bastien's grief/family stuff, the icky Carl stuff, and Kira as a character. Also: not enough screen time with our MCs post HEA! At least give me an epilogue!!

4.75⭐
What a debut!

Orlando, a shifter, is going through it: blamed for the death of their girlfriend, ostracized and bullied, and alienated from their witch cohorts. Enter Bastian, a talented and handsome witch with a drive to prove himself. When these two meet, they will set off on adventure that is sure to test their minds, bodies, and their hearts.

Now, I'm not a huge fantasy fan, but this work was probably one of my favorite fantasy works ever! I appreciate that we are given enough information about the world-building to understand how things work, without the other information-dumping on the reader. I also think this was a very unique and individual style of fantasy, and one that I'm happy to have read.

It would be easy to chalk this up to "queer romantasy," but I think there is so SO much more to it than that. There's a lot of great discussions around gender identity, self-acceptance, loss, grief, and love. Orlando and Bastian are fantastic characters with depth and heart. Additionally, the plot was twisty enough that I was completely shocked towards the end of the book. Cannot recommend this enough!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this wonderful book!

Pub date: October 14, 2025.

Wow. This one is going to stick with me for a while. It’s unapologetically queer, it’s magical, it’s angsty, and it also has little bits of historical drama sprinkled in and a touch of romance that made my stomach do backflips and somersaults.

Nonbinary shapeshifter Lando can’t access magic or control their shifting. If that wasn’t enough to make them feel like an outcast in magical society, most of their classmates think that they’re responsible for the accident that caused the death of their girlfriend Elizabeth. When handsome new student Bastian approaches Lando with the opportunity to cast a forbidden resurrection spell to save Elizabeth, a mystery soon unfolds, and Lando’s life once again gets flipped upside down.

While the story is dark and deals with tragic themes such as death, grief, and suicidal ideations, I really enjoyed the snarkiness and dark humor from Lando’s narration. I also loved learning about the unique magic system through the story’s college setting, Lando’s history, and the mysterious resurrection ritual that Lando and Bastian are preparing. I also loved the growth in the relationship between the two main characters. No spoilers here, but the trauma and high stakes of the story make the will-they-won’t-they aspect so enticing. It was wonderful to follow along with Lando and Bastian’s journey.

As much as I loved this book, please check the trigger warnings and make an informed decision as to whether this is a healthy read for you. But if you love queer and trans representation, intriguing magic systems, and beautiful stories about grief and the highs and lows of the human experience, then this is a stellar option.

This books is so different from everything I’ve ever read! It was such a refreshing read on witchcraft and magic, while also tackling harder topics such as body dysmorphia and grief. There are some hard to read things so make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading. The twist at the end was good, I was trying to create my own theories but I was definitely off of what really happened. I think the end was a little fast in wrapping up the story, and could have used a little more space. Overall 3.75 stars.

A very interesting premise, I absolutely love the relationship between Lando and Bastian. The perfect romantic necromantic tale!

Lando is a shapeshifter who doesn’t have magic. He is an outcast. Shapershifters are shunned by witches and hidden from humans. What makes it even worse is he isn’t doesn’t have control over his shapeshifting like the others. shapeshifters typically have control and choose a gender. Lando is non binary to the dismay of others. He is dealing with the loss of his girlfriend. Everyone thinks it is his fault she dies including both his parents and hers. He is alone all of the time and is a victim of bullying. Bastien is the new kid at school. He makes a concerted effort to befriend Lando. He wants to work together on a spell to bring back his girlfriend, Elizabeth.

This book delves into mental health issues , suicide attempts , grief, transphobia, and necromancy. I loved how the book used shape shifting to explain the inner turmoil of being non binary. And the outside pressures he feels from his parents and everyone around him wanting him to choose a gender. It also discusses bigotry and homophobia.The author also talks a lot about grief and the guilt that is often felt by the family and loved ones.

I really loved the slow burn romance between Lando and Bastien. Lando is dealing with the guilt of moving from Elizabeth. He also doesn’t know if Bastien is asking him out or if he is just trying to be friendly. I was happy when they finally did get together. Their progression from friends to lovers feels natural.

I also really enjoyed the side character Kira. I would have enjoyed seeing even more of her in the book.

My only issues with the book is that it does start a bit slow and I think there could have been more world building. I also couldn’t understand why Lando never asked why Bastien wanted being back Elizabeth and not Shasta, his brother. I felt like anybody else would have asked.i guess maybe it can be explained by him being distracted by the state of his mental health and the grief he was dealing with but it just seemed so outrageous to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Marten’s press for providing me this digital ARC on exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to Netgalley, Wednesday Books and Emma Hinds for the eARC in exchange for a review of this book.

It's hard to put into words what I felt at the end of this book. I definitely liked it but at the same time, I'm not gushing over it. It's more a quiet feeling of introspection, sitting with the struggles of the book and understanding the ending that it had.

The book focuses on the grief of Lando, a shapeshifter attending college with a bunch of witches, who is unable to control their magic and who is mourning the loss of their girlfriend, who diedat the beginningof summer. When Bastian starts attending the college with Lando, Bastian tells Lando that a spell exists that would bring their girlfriend back to life. They just need to get everything the spell needs and they can cast the spell and get her back. Lando wants that more than anything and is willing to put their life on the line to make it happen.

First of all, I am in no way, shape or form able to make any comment on the overall character of Lando. I want to start with that because I respect the representation, I believe that a character like Lando should exist. I just feel like I can't put words to make any kind of assessment on the existence of the character. I respect their feelings, their thoughts, the struggles portrayed in the book, but I can't say if it will resonate for the readers who identify with Lando's identity. I'll leave that in the expert hands of my peers, who can delve into exactly how Lando's everything worked for them as readers. I liked Lando overall, and their story kept me reading to the end of the book, a sign of a well written character.

Next, talking about the world of the book, I'll admit I was left wanting more detail. It's an interesting concept, the idea of witches and shapeshifters existing in the world today, out in the open. I would have wanted to see more of the ins and outs of their existence and how the non-magic people of the world interact with witches and shapeshifters. There were a few encounters in the beginning of the book, interactions that made it seem like witches and shapeshifters are scorned, but I can't tell if this is an all the time type of thing or if it just happened to be what Lando witnessed.

It is all a bit vague in the sense that the book only focuses on Lando's storyline, finding what they need for the resurrection spell, and it stays focused on that. There is some mention of Lando having a normal job at a store, but we don't see Lando at work, only going to and coming back from their job. Lando is seen at their halfway home and in school settings, only interacting with witches. When Lando and Bastian travel, again, the story focuses on the two characters, and we know there are people around them but they have no bearings on the story.

Even when Lando is at school, there is very little detail given about the courses or the purpose of the school. The only time a little detail is given about the particulars of a school course, it was to give detail for the resurrection plot. Almost made it feel like a school setting was not completely necessary. I feel like seeing more of Lando's struggle with exams and spell casting would have helped with rounding out Lando and filling in details of the story.

I had my suspicions of how things would play out in the book and wanting to find out if I was right is what kept me going with this book. In the end, I liked the reveals and the strength that Lando earned by the last page. I would have wanted more but it still works very well with what readers are given.

Rating on my scale: 7.5 Stars. I'll be keeping Emma Hinds on my list of authors to pay attention to and I look forward to reading more books from them in the future. This release shows they have the chops to create books I'll be interested in reading.

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, witchy vibes, queer reads, nonbinary characters, stories of grief, mental health

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 6/8 and will be posted to Instagram 6/25 and to my review blog 7/24.

TW suicidal ideation, mentions of suicide attempt

The book opens on the first day back at college after Lando's very terrible summer break. College was never the easiest, Lando was an outcast already by virtue of the fact that they're a shifter, but now that everyone thinks they killed their girlfriend, it's even worse.

While we don't get the full story of what happened with Elizabeth immediately, it is pretty clear from the get-go that Lando didn't actually kill her, though they feel a lot of guilt over what happened. Combined with the comments of their peers, it makes it hard for Lando to see who's really being judgmental and who just wants to help them in their grief.

This story centers rather firmly around the concept of grief and how different people process and whether it's okay to let go or not. Lando as lost the person they love and is still very stuck in that mental place. They're really struggling with everything, so of course a resurrection spell sounds like a great idea. While the story does center around Lando, we also get to see how other people have handled grief, both related to Elizabeth and not, and the ways that grief can tear people apart.

Bastian is new to Demdike College and is pretty open to forming his own opinions on people, regardless of what he hears about Lando. The two become tentative allies, then friends, with their relationship starting to blossom into something more. Bastian is an interesting character because at times he's very eager and sweet, while other times he holds a lot back and is not exactly being a team player. But like Lando, Bastian has his own ghosts to work through, and he does get better about sharing his ideas prior to executing them.

I was really interested in the worldbuilding and wish we got at least a little more of it in this book. It's clear witches are generally known about, there are several scenes featuring magic use in front of non-magical people, with varying degrees of comment, and there's a magical museum exhibit up that's open to anyone. But I'm curious about how that impacts things. Like, it's made very clear that most witches can only cast temporary spells, but what does that mean for the world at large? There are plenty of instances where a temporary spell could be helpful (beyond latte art), so are there magical jobs for everyday things? Likewise, magical creatures exist and we come face-to-face with a boggart and selkies, which Bastian and Lando are familiar with and know how to handle. But do non-magical people know how to deal with them too? Are there certain precautions in place for things like boggarts or is it just luck? There seems like there's a lot to this world and while I know Lando's story is pretty centered on grief and the resurrection spell, I do wish we got a peek at that wider world.

In terms of the plot, this is a very character-driven novel. Lando and Bastian do have to go on little adventures and risk their lives to get the ingredients for the resurrection spell, but at the same time, the book isn't really about that. It's about handling grief. So we get a pretty deep look at Lando and their journey throughout the novel, and we even get some really good insight into Bastian. There's also a focus on queerness and not fitting cultural/societal expectations and the loneliness associated with that. Part of this plot was...pretty predictable, I'll say. While I appreciated that Hinds brought history into the tale, I don't exactly think it was a surprise the direction this subplot went in, though Lando at least was pretty shocked.

One more thing I will say, I wish we saw more of Kira. I didn't really like her much at first, Lando makes her out to be pretty intolerable, but once she shows up a couple of times, I thought it was clear that Kira was being genuine. The two of them do eventually have a good hear-to-heart, but she seems like such an interesting character, I'd love to see more about her.

"Bravery, then, is this; someone's eyes, full of acceptance. Someone's hands, cradling me close. Knowing I am wanted, all of me, as I am."

Lando is a shapeshifter in a world where they are not accepted amongst witches, and hidden to humans. They are able to shift forms between female and male presenting in this interesting representation of nonbinary individuals.

Not only is Lando not accepted by the greater witch community, they also do not feel connected to their parents. Shapeshifters are supposed to have more magical powers than witches but Lando has lived devoid of magical prowess.

Lando meets new student Bastian, who quickly befriends our MC and agrees to help Lando resurrect their dead girlfriend; Lando feels like they are responsible for her death.

This story is a little slow to begin but it is an amazing look into the inner turmoil of nonbinary individuals and a real expression on how LGBTQ+ are viewed and treated by society.

An interesting contemporary universe where witches, shapeshifters, and humans exist together openly, but uneasily. Orlando is a shapeshifter unable to control when they switch between male and female forms or perform magic. On top of the societal stigma against shapeshifters, Lando is an outcast for another reason: they are blamed for the accidental death of their girlfriend, Elizabeth. When a handsome new boy arrives at Demdike College of Witchcraft with a disarming lack of fucks to give and a proposition to steal an ancient grimoire containing a spell to raise Elizabeth from the dead, well, what's an enby to do?

The author handles trauma, mental illness, and suicidal ideation at times with the appropriate, therapist-approved gravity, and at others with a levity that might be shocking to anyone who hasn't experienced it themselves, but is all-too familiar to those of us who have. When I sing the praises of YA authors, this is what I'm talking about. YA has this incredible ability to handle serious, adult topics in a way that is universally and easily understood, and Hinds exemplifies that perfectly in this novel.

My only real issue with this book is almost entirely my own damn fault. I made the mistake of looking up the author before I finished the book, only to discover that they are also the author of a still-updating Harry Potter fanfiction.

In addition to the Yuck of continuing to be involved with J.K. Rowling's aggressively racist, homophobic, trans-phobic, generally bigoted franchise, all of a sudden, the bits and pieces of this novel that were clearly plucked directly from an HP fanfic started jumping out at me.

I enjoyed most of Witchlore, but in spite of that, I probably won't be purchasing from this author in the future. I cannot in good conscience support anyone who chooses to give time and attention to the creation of a woman who has and continues to use her disgustingly vast wealth to actively oppress trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people. Especially considering the themes of this book, it's just a very strange thing to continue to be so proudly involved with that you advertise it on your professional website.

I was initially drawn to Witchlore by its intriguing premise, and the promise of queer and nonbinary representation - something I’ve really been looking for in my reads lately. This was my first time reading anything by Emma Hinds, and I went in excited for an urban magical fantasy story filled with emotional turmoil and grief, and unique worldbuilding.

Unfortunately, I struggled to stay engaged and ended up putting the book down around the halfway mark 🥲

I wanted to learn more about the backbone of the world - the source of the magic, the feud between shapeshifters and the witches, the classism—these things had real potential, but the execution fell flat for me. Maybe this would have been explained better further in the story, but it was difficult to get through this in any substantial way simply because of the writing style.

The prose lacked the vividness I usually look for in fantasy. I never felt immersed or invested in the plot or characters. The writing seemed simplistic. I found myself wishing for more descriptive language or unique turns of phrase to bring the setting and emotions to life - despite the grief of the main character, I felt entirely apathetic.

On paper, this sounds like a story I would love, but in reality it lacks too much in regard to atmosphere, characters, and writing style, to really enjoy. Witchlore just wasn’t for me.

Others may find more resonance in the story, especially if they’re drawn to introspective narratives or more subtle fantasy, but I needed stronger worldbuilding and character development to stay invested.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars

I loved everything about this story.

I did get a little upset at Lando for being so mean to Kira but it is understandable with grief, so I tried to be patient and it paid ofr. The ending was phenomenal.

Witches but in our world? Sign me up! I will admit it did throw me off a little with a mcdonalds reference at the beginning because I didn't realize we were that modern, but once I readjusted, it worked great! I loved both of our MCs and the journeys they go on throughout the book. It is dark and deep but so worth it. We get to see Lando grow through their journey with magic, pain, and fitting in. I loved Lando so much!!! So! Lando and Bastian team up to do a resurrection spell together. They have to gather the ingredients, which is (of course) not a simple task. Throughout their time together, they grow closer and a lot of ups and downs happen. Also, they got this resurrection spell from stealing a grimoire from a museum and Lando has some sort of connection with it and its owner that I loved trying to guess what was happening with! I was not as smart as I thought i was bc every guess i had was WRONG.

Also!!! I loved the world building done and the amount of withlore and history we get with witch society without it feeling like a lecture. Like, it’s spread throughout the book at relevant times and isn't frontloaded. It worked so well!

This is a great fall read and comes out just in time to read before halloween! This unapologetically queer story is for you if you love characters finding love and connection in each other after difficult times, queer happiness (and a lot of queer sadness), and cozy fantasies!

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and the author for an ARC for my honest review :) This book is expected to be released on October 14, 2025

Absolutely loved it!!! The romance here was amazing, and I loved the plot and world-building as well.

review also posted to Goodreads

The non-binary shapeshifter character I have been CRAVING! I was so hoping this would be a good story based on the description and the author did not disappoint!

Lando’s journey through their grief and mental health felt grounded and real. You watch them relate to Bastian through their shared grief and learn how to move forward in the world while still processing what they’ve lost (it never truly goes away, you just learn how to live with it). I had suspicions about the eventual twist, but it felt less like a predictable outcome and more like “oh I hope this is how it plays out”.

My partner is non-binary, but sadly not a big reader. I read enough for the both of us, though, ahah. When I told them about this book, they got happy tears and thanked the slow changes our society is making.

As for the book itself, I really appreciated best the characters and their respective introspective journeys. I couldn't give this five stars only because I was a bit disappointed with the magical aspect, which could've been better.

Definitely recommended!

What a great story dealing with so many very deep and important issues through the lens of magic and fantasy. I really, really loved this story. This story is set in a magical college in modern times and has witches and shifters in a really fun book that is both encouraging and deeply impactful. It delves into the issues of identity, learning to accept who you are, bullying, broken families, loss, grief, helplessness, hopelessness, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, finding strength in ourselves, found families, redemption and ultimately overcoming the things we perceive as insurmountable to step into personal freedom. This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time and one I know I will think about often. Such a great book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

This was a book where I appreciated the themes and the characters more than I was hooked by the plot.

The romance was a sweet and well paced progression of feelings that I appreciated. The unapologetic queerness of it all was incredibly refreshing. As someone who is trans, I also ardently appreciated the genderness of it all. The struggles of trying to understand exactly who you are and how you feel. But a little unsure of the shapeshifting of it all.

What threw me off of the story was the nature of our "bad guy" (he felt too comical and exaggerated to take seriously) as well as the twists at the end. They felt...I'm not quite sure. A little rushed in one way and a little too convenient of an explanation to be intriguing.

3.5 stars.
This was a refreshingly unique fantasy, that unapologetically centered queerness. As a nonbinary person myself, reading about Lando's struggles through their gender identity and mental health was very poignant and carefully done. I did think the last 10-20% of this book rushed a little bit, with the plot twist somehow feeling both completely unexpected and underwhelming, but I overall loved the messaging, romance, and magic system of this book. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author!