I honestly wish this book were a bit longer given I got so attached to these characters! The plot had such a fresh and fascinating twist, especially the whole gender-swapping shapeshifting thing. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Lando felt like a real person, very much like someone I could have known over the years. Bastien was also such a fully realized character, wrestling with his own grief. Watching their relationship evolve was pure joy, I was honestly left kicking my feet and squealing at times. The pacing felt nearly perfect, with just a slight lull at the start, but it really picked up as things began to unfold. The only thing I found myself craving was a bit more world-building. The magic, while important, takes a backseat to the characters (which I’m totally on board with), but a little more insight into how the magic actually works would’ve been a nice touch.

While I ended up enjoying this book, it didn’t exactly start out great. I really struggled to get into it, and I struggled to want to move forward. Like many of the reviews I read, I agree that the story lacked explanations of the magical world and in its place was information about the real, physical world around the characters that wasn’t really needed.

For the first time, I started reading again after I started skimming. I enjoyed Lando and Bastian’s relationship, and when they started gathering ingredients for the spell, I started paying closer attention to the story again. I also liked how the author linked being nonbinary with shapeshifter—while I have never lived that truth, I feel it could easily be an accurate description for it.

All in all, I enjoy this story even if I didn’t love the writing as much as I had hoped.

I fully enjoyed this story.

I absolutely adored the brilliant idea of using shape shifting to represent body dysmorphia in a non binary person and actually can’t believe it hasn’t ever been done before!
Like, why aren’t all shapeshifters just considered non binary?
I love it!

The twist took shape for me around the 80% mark and I do so love it when I turn out to be right!
Brilliantly written, and lived the lore put into the book and the world building.

The romance was fantastic as well, and so meant to be!
I’m team B&L ♥️

Thank you so much to netgalley and St.Martins Press for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this story early!

The pacing was a bit odd, like chugging up a roller coaster slowly then rushing down the slope towards the end for the big reveal. Overall a deeply enjoyable read though (and very queer, which is always a plus). Gives a bit of the vibe of dltfi (cg drews). I really recommend this book once it comes out. A thoroughly magical read that I didn’t see coming. I’m feeling something with cinnamon would pair well with it 🤎 4/5 stars

I jumped at the chance to read this book the moment I laid eyes on the ARC! The main character, Orlando (or Lando, as they prefer to be called) is a shapeshifter who’s non-binary and randomly shifts between male and female forms. For this reason, they are ostracized by the other witches at college. After the accidental death of their girlfriend, Lando befriends Bastian, a new witch they meet at college, with the promise to try a spell that will resurrect their girlfriend. The search for the spell’s ingredients will lead Lando and Bastian down the path of Lando’s past and the reason why their magic flares uncontrollably.

I really loved Lando - their emotions were so palpable and I felt a lot for them. I also liked that the story is set in Manchester - I rarely find fantasy books that aren’t set in London (or the woods) so this was a refreshing change. Recommended for fans of contemporary fantasy with great queer rep (and non-binary in particular).

**Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!**

Dark magic, grief, and identity collide in this queer fantasy thriller, where shapeshifter Lando risks everything to bring back the girl they lost. that left me at the edge of my seat until the final page of the novel.

I used to be a bigger fantasy fan than I apparently am now (I don’t hate it, but I’ve been hyper-fixated on regular queer romance for A WHILE), but this was so great. The world building was top notch, without hitting Tolkien level, and I love that.
There is so much discussion on gender identity and I’m honestly baffled that more shifters haven’t fallen more on the line of non-binary throughout history. I guess the pressure to choose a gender and base form as a form of safety, probably had a lot to do with it, but I wonder how many actually did struggle with dysphoria, when changing gender so much throughout their lives.
I was really glad to ho on this journey of growth and healing with Lando and Bastian and I so happy to have seen Lando open himself up to love, again.
In some ways this felt predictable in spots, but I think it was more like me wishing certain things would happen and being happy when they did, instead of things being super cliche.

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️Random notes from my read: CAN BE CONSIDERED SPOILERY⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️




* As someone who is queer, Carl is the absolute worst kind
* What was the weird bad feeling in the cave? That’s curious
* I’m so invested in what’s going on with these dreams
* Honestly, Elizabeth doesn’t sound like a good gf. She was embarrassed of being with Lando and didn’t want anyone to know. I think they are just stuck on her because she was the first to she them real affection
* Is this a past life??
* Anyone else clock that Elizabeth always called them Orla, which is a feminine name?
* I love being right
* Nothing about the parents’ reaction?? I want more

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

I really enjoyed this book. It was magical but also very deep and thought provoking. Lando is a deeply flawed individual who has lost their partner, Elizabeth to a complete accident, but that doesn’t resolve their guilt or grief. They meet Bastian and try to undo the accident of death through a series of tasks that will help them complete the spell to bring Elizabeth back. The twist was a bit predictable, but still enjoyable! Overall the writing style was well done and the story flowed well. It touches on really topical ideas of gender identity, self harm, guilt, grief, and growth most importantly. I gave this book a 3.25/5 overall. Some of the storyline could be a bit more expanded upon or given more context.

Witchlore is a pleasant surprise. This story about Lando, a shapeshifter who shifts between genders, has the lightheartedness of F. T. Lukens’ books and the grief found in Michelle Kulwicki’s At the End of the River Styx.
TW: Be aware that the first pages include suicidal ideation.

Lando lost their girlfriend Elizabeth and feels like everyone blames them. When their new classmate Bastian says he knows a spell to bring Elizabeth back, the two of them begin working together and… start liking each other more and more.

I’m not a huge fantasy fan, I say it time and again, but this one is just for me. It’s contemporary and character-driven enough to let me feel all the feels, and the worldbuilding is easy to follow. Lando’s grief is palpable throughout the first half of the story, and I rooted for them and Bastian so much.

Witchlore by Emma Hinds is a dark, queer fantasy set in a magical, contemporary England that blends dark academia with themes of identity, trauma, and resilience. The story follows Lando, a nonbinary shapeshifter, as they navigate grief, discrimination, and self-discovery in a society riddled with systemic bias against those like them. With rich intersectional representation, the novel uses blood magic as a striking metaphor for self-harm and healing, and explores consent, autonomy, and the complexities of marginalized existence with care. Though the worldbuilding and character arcs occasionally feel underdeveloped and the pacing leans more introspective than action-packed, the emotional weight and fresh perspective make this a standout read. Witchlore is both tender and biting story with a powerful look at magic, mental health, and what it means to reclaim your power.

3.5 ⭐️

This was an enjoyable book and I’m so glad I got to read it. The characters were so easy to connect with, and the plot always held my interest.

I believe that the book’s strongest suit was the character relationships (though they did go a little downhill towards the ending). I found the idea of using shape shifting to represent body dysmorphia in a non binary person really intriguing. I haven’t read many books with non binary characters so I’m unsure how often this trope is employed, but this was my first time reading about it and I think it really helped me gain a better understanding of how androgynous people may feel. Lando’s character had a lot of depth and I really liked them. I wasn’t particularly satisfied with the ending, especially with how Lando and Bastian’s relationship was addressed. I think their relationship ending could have been approached in a different manner (I wanted more groveling) as their relationships resolution felt so anticlimactic. The part before the ending was so gut wrenching and angsty though, and I was so invested in these characters.

There were also some off putting dialogues that just didn’t seem to fit into the story, and just felt so unnecessary. Sometimes the book would also describe things that weren’t relevant to the story and I wish that instead of describing random things the book would have described the magical elements better. That’s brings me to my point that- the world building was lackluster as it seemed to lack the mystical and enthralling vibes that come in fantasy books. It’s hard to find yourself in a magical universe when the witches and wizards go to what is described as a dingy college. I struggled to form images in my head when magic was being performed, and I really think the actions witches took could have been defined more. There were some places where the world building hit the spot though, like when the author used the idiom “never name a boggart” and explained it. The whole plot twist thing at the end was also done well plot wise, but it wasn’t executed well.

Also I am American so I didn’t understand most of the British references. I feel that this book had a very specific audience and I was unfortunately not in that specified category.

Overall, this book has parts that irked me quite a bit, but I did enjoy reading it. If you enjoy academia and teenage yearning then I think you’ll enjoy this book!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital advanced reader copy

Witchlore follows Orlando (Lando), a shapeshifter at a witchcraft college, who is often ostracized and targeted because they’re the only shifter amongst a student  body of witches. Other students distrust and sometimes abuse Lando, including because Lando refuses to choose a gender and cannot do basic magic or maintain a base form. Elizabeth, Lando’s girlfriend and the one witch that seemed to understand them, ends up dying while trying to perform a spell. Lando blames themself for Elizabeth’s death and returns to school only because additional supports are put in place for them.

Bastian, a new student, befriends and wants to help Lando, including with a spell to bring Elizabeth back. Yet the magic involved and Bastian’s unclear past make it uncertain whether Lando should trust him and others—especially as the stakes are raised and the risks that must be taken increase over time. 

Overall, the storyline was intriguing and the differences in magical beings allowed the author to address prejudices, choosing to be yourself in spite of those negative impacts, and finding allies.  It also provided a fantastical realm to help address the concept of being nonbinary, even with societal and familial pressure to make a choice. The world building was really interesting, especially given it is set in modern times but has a full backstory of magical lore beyond the typical. I enjoyed where the author pulled from historical/traditional magical mentions (e.g., Merlin, boggarts, kelpies) but also created a unique system in which it operates. I could see Witchlore being expanded into either a prequel or a sequel, depending on plot. 

Trigger warnings include death, suicide, mental health struggles, prejudice, bigotry, and discussion of war. This definitely seems like it is on the mature end of YA as a result of those mentions.

Witchlore will be published on October 14, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Witchlore.

**"Review Summary:***
I adored this heartfelt fantasy story of grief, learning self-acceptance, and recovering from trauma. It's very queer, very Northern English, very magical, and it made me cry countless times.

I think you'll like this book if you enjoy: books with a focus on character growth and mental health, queer happy endings, magical schools, fantasy creatures (including selkies!), romance that's important to the plot but not the main focus, non-binary and pansexual rep. It's a YA book but I would class it as upper YA.

But, bear in mind Emma Hinds' books can really take you to a dark place. Their characters suffer, and there's an authenticity to how Hinds writes their pain. And Witchlore might be Hinds' first YA novel, but it is no exception to this rule. I strongly recommend checking the content warnings (I've listed some at the end of this review, but they may not be exhaustive).

***In More Detail:***
I can't stress enough how much I loved this book and how it crafts a poignant story in a fantasy setting.

Witchlore is an urban fantasy story set mostly in Manchester. I really enjoyed how the world-building blends British mythology with northern English culture (and some Cornish elements — including multiple uses of the Cornish language!). We get so many magical creatures, spooky night-time rituals, grimoires, and different methods of spellcasting.

The book is delightfully queer. There is a lot of raw pain and suffering, but the way Lando grows to want to live is really impactful. There's also an incredibly sweet relationship that develops throughout the course of the book.

I also love how developed and distinctive the characters are. Lando is far more than their grief, and as they start to recover, we see more of their personality. Even background characters are well-written. Hinds is great at writing realistic social interactions, especially between strangers.

***Content Warnings:***
In particular, there will be off-page suicide attempts, self-harm and self-destructive behaviour, plus transphobia (and more specifically, non-binaryphobia), references to child abuse and neglectful/cruel parenting that may be particularly triggering for queer and neurodivergent people, death, sexual harassment and bullying.

Holy cow, this book is going to sit in my soul for quite a while. Where did Emma Hinds come from and how have I not read anything by her? One book in and I'm already adding to my evergrowing list of auto-buy authors. This book is unapologetically queer, magical, and angsty plus it's got a captivating plot to boot! She handles some honestly really dark themes (death, grief, and suicidal ideations) with grace, care and a little but of dark humor!

I love watching Lando and Bastian navigate their magic and friendship and blooming romance. The magic system was also really cool and frankly, the plot alone could have kept me interested in the storyline. The blossoming romance was just the cherry on top. The ending was a plot twist that I didn't fully see coming and felt like a really satisfying pay-off for the characters. I couldn't name a single flaw in this book if my life depending on it.

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!