The premise of this was compelling enough, but the execution felt a bit rough, like it could do with a bit more polishing, and maybe fleshing out some parts of it. I love character development, and this felt underdeveloped for sure. I hate one dimensional villains, which you certainly have here. The FMC and MMC are exes who are reunited, and we are told a lot of their backstory, rather than shown any of it. That makes it hard to feel sympathy for their relationship - I honestly didn't care if they got back together or not. And many of the minor characters were very much interchangeable figures.

There's a scene towards the end of the book, when they have all arrived safely at the manor they've been trying to get to. The FMC has wine with several of the other characters, and rather than write the conversation, the author tells us they talked of "everything and nothing" and then lists things like love affairs and potions and adventures. I read that scene and felt absolutely zero connection to all of the characters in i.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, but it's pretty obvious where this story is going. Not sure I'll continue with it.

This book captured my attention with it's themes of feminism, witches, and rekindled romance. And it did not disappoint!

It is a story of heartbreak and the war on women (and anyone different) by a patriarchal and religious society. It was a dark fantasy that is action pack and a fast moving pace. The ending isn't quite a cliff hanger, but definitely leaves you wanting the next book!

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had trouble getting this to my tablet so read it on my computer..at work...quickly. It was that good. 4 Stars. Not to give anything away but this is an author to watch.

Premise:
Set in a world where women who have undergone certain traumas turn into "Hell Witches" and are then targeted and prosecuted by an opposing religion dominated by men. The story follows one such Hell Witch, an orphan and previous street thief, after she has ascended through society to become a duchess. An assassination attempt causes her to use her Hell Witch powers and accidentally kill her husband in the scuffle. She then must go on-the-run to escape the pyres and find a community of hell witches so she can live in peace. She solicits the help of an old flame from her street thieving days. He has since had a daughter who is also a Hell Witch but whose powers have turned on her and have made her sick. He agrees to help her escape to the community if she brings him and his daughter so she can be healed. The story follows their journey as they are chased by the religious fanatics and address past traumas of their own.

Review:
I really enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting, likable and realistic and went beyond the romance itself. I enjoyed the dialogue. The villains were infuriatingly evil. The plot was not overly complicated but moved at a good pace. The real journey was in the characters reflecting on and addressing their internal traumas so there isn't much to the plot in terms of their physical journey. Though I rather enjoyed that, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. However, the book was still intriguing and I was definitely encouraged by the writing and story to see what happened next.

Overall, I encourage you to add to your TBR! Now more than ever, we need stories that encourage the solidarity between women and the showcase of hope that comes from fighting back against oppression.

I am so torn. I really loved the Prudence's character and the magic system, but ultimately it was the pacing that made this fall flat for me. I struggled to stay engaged in the story as I slogged through it.

Taylor Hartley's Song of the Hell Witch is a gripping tale that masterfully intertwines dark fantasy with profound feminist themes.
The story follows Prudence Merriweather, a woman who ascends from the streets to nobility, all while concealing her forbidden magic in a patriarchal society.

The magic system in this book is unique. Women unlock power through trauma, so it becomes a metaphor for the resilience and strength that emerge from adversity.

The rekindled romance between Prudence and her childhood love, Puck Reed, steeps this story in layers of emotion. Puck's unwavering dedication to his ailing daughter adds more complexity, highlighting the lengths one will go to, to protect loved ones.

What makes this book unique is its exploration of systemic oppression and the solidarity among women. Hartley doesn't shy away from depicting a society's attempts to suppress women's power, drawing parallels to our current reality.

Holy freaking smokes. If you can’t tell from the cover, this story is deliciously powerful, stoked into a raging fire of feminist outrage. Hartley has managed to weave a tale that is full of power and depth; a blending of legends that demonize women with the ability to fight back and real life modern day real pain that unfortunately too many of us have experienced. Her characters are complex in their resistance to the patriarchy, but Hartley does bring a shining light to her commentary on men with Puck. All of us have a Puck in our lives, a man that restores our faith that it is okay to be soft sometimes.
Prudence is the character I think you are all going to be rooting for this fall. Raw and unyielding, her fight for what is right and her relationship with other women will have you reading well into the night, perhaps fighting back tears from the sheer beauty of it. This book had me examining my own life and realizing how much of a similar community we really do have on Bookstagram. All of us different and with various books we adore, but all of us present and supportive of each other. I think I might have said this before- but I am so grateful for all you. Also thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press especially- this novel is stunning in its vibrancy and I need a shelf trophy of it immediately upon release.

Stars :4.5/5
Spice: 1/5
Sisterhood: 30/5 you guys I need real life hugs from you all
Scary relatability: 15/5

Check your triggers!

I was pretty confused at the start of the story. Overall, I think the story is pretty interesting, and I liked it. The ending makes me nervous. I was bored at some points of the story, the slower parts, but once it picked up, I was in the story. One thing that really threw me off was that the 8 year old doesn't really feel/speak like an 8 year old.

This book? A spicy little cauldron of feminist rage, forbidden magic, and exes on a road trip, which is honestly my favorite genre now. Thanks for that.

Prudence Merriweather is the definition of “don’t mistake politeness for weakness.” She’s clawed her way from street rat to duchess and is trying to play nice in a society that would burn her alive if they knew what she really was. Also, her husband sucks. Just putting that out there.

Enter Puck Reed. Thief Lord. Girl Dad. Childhood sweetheart turned “surprise, we’re stuck together again” partner in crime. He’s just trying to keep his daughter alive and not fall in love with Prudence all over again. He’s failing at both. Love that for us.

The vibes were immaculate:
💀 Monstrous women reclaiming their power
🔥 Second-chance romance with a healthy amount of angst
🛣️ A deadly magical road trip featuring cults, curses, and emotional damage
👀 Shadowy magic that feels fresh and slightly terrifying
📍 A strong dose of patriarchy-smashing power

I docked a star because the pacing hit a bit of a lull in the middle, but the ending absolutely delivered. The worldbuilding was rich, the emotional stakes were high, and I’m already hoping we get more stories set in this world.

If you’re into messy magic, sharp women, and soft men trying their best in a world that’s on fire, this one belongs on your TBR!

Song of the Hell Witch was what it promised and more. The in-world magic was interesting and served as a powerful metaphor for how people feel a lack of power and control at their lowest point and the healing and growing that come after. Additionally, the second chance romance within the story contained pining and the necessary frustrations of love and loss without the pitfall of having the two love interests come together instantly.

I was particularly impressed by the cast of characters within this book. The one that sticks out the most to me was Marigold. The handling of Marigold who had a respect from her friends and attention to her storyline that I felt did her character justice was better than I could have hoped for (she is one I very much look forward to seeing again in future books). Prudence and Puck were also well written and three dimensional characters. Even our main antagonist for this book was given a compelling backstory that explained his motivations and made me pity him.

While heavy-handed at times, this book did a good job of examining sexism and the role it plays in dictating the lives of people living in its shadow. I enjoyed how, near the end of the book, Puck got a small taste of feeling ill-at-ease and like an outsider, giving the others a chance to point out how that experience was very common for them as women in Leora. Similarly, the book included the danger of religious fanaticism. This played strongly into the plot and conflicts of the story and ended up hitting a bit close to home given some of the debates on policy playing out in politics today.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and I look forward to seeing more in this world.

Taylor Hartley dives deep into discrimination with this romantasy set in times of political strife and gender inequality. With strong female characters, it's an inspiring tale of women fighting back against men and oppression with magic.

I felt empowered throughout my entire read. It wasn't difficult to compare the storyline to modern discrimination women still face, and I was left inspired to fight for change.

The love story is written with realism, apologies, and second chances resulting in an unmatched connection and steamy romance to be yearned for. With rich descriptions and strong development, the writing is both captivating and cinematic.

Thank you, Taylor Hartley, NetGalley, and Alcove Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Song of the Hell Witch is powerful tribute to women. Women gain their magic through traumatic experiences. The unique magic system, and political intrigue captured my interest from start to finish. I thought that the character building was done excellently, but the relationships lacked oomph.
One thing that I had trouble with was keeping up with the action-packed battle scenes. They sometimes left me feeling confused, but that could be due to reader error.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

This one was a solid 3-star read for me.

Let’s start with what I did enjoy: the magic system is unique and imaginative, and the FMC is powerful, layered, and deeply affected by her past. The book explores the emotional weight of trauma—particularly the kind women carry—in a way that felt honest and intentional. It’s also incredibly inclusive, especially in its thoughtful and affirming representation of trans women, which is something I really appreciated and hope to see more of in fantasy.

Where the book fell short for me was mostly in the pacing. It dragged in several places, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged—I had to push myself to finish. Also, the second-chance romance trope just didn’t work for me in this story. That’s a personal preference though, and I know many readers love that element.

Overall, I’m glad I gave it a shot. There’s a lot of heart and creativity here, even if it didn’t fully land for me.

3.5 stars rounded up

I think The Song of the Hell Witch was a fresh take on the romantasy genre. The magic system was unique– women gain their powers through trauma. It does have the single Dad and second chance romance tropes. It’s trans inclusive feminism, which we definitely need more of at this moment. However, I found the pacing inconsistent; slow at the beginning, sped up, and then lagging in the middle before speeding up again. I wish more time was given to develop Pru, Puck and Mari as characters, and the world building could’ve been expanded on.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am so surprised by the other reviews on this book and fear I may be alone in saying that this book was simply not it for me. The pacing was off, it wasn't until the last 10% that it really picked up. I also felt that everything was practically spoon fed to me, where I typically like to infer the deeper meaning behind the book and piece together things on my own.

I do like the premise and the idea that women who go through a traumatic event are given a shred of power. This book has a unique magic system and the second chance romance is bittersweet.
Overall, I think there just wasn't enough going on to reel me in.

This book is at the base of it all about feminine rage and while I support women's rights I also support their wrongs. The female characters in the story are badass to say the least and I really loved how only the women change when they go through a emotional turmoil but not the men.
The lead, Prudence, is a Hell Witch who is at first leading a life hiding the fact as the men tend to burn such women alive but then situations arise and she has to flee. It is also a second chance romance which comes with its complexities and sort of slow burn as well.
I really liked it and want to read the next one asap.

I wanted to love this but had trouble connecting with the story! Wished the characters were a bit more developed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Taylor Hartley for allowing me to read and review this ARC

Wow. Just wow.

This debut book was a stunning feat of feminine rage and the incredible bonds formed between women who share in their oppression. I loved the LGBTQ+ rep within the story and appreciated that it didn't contain 99% world building that I often find takes away from a fantasy book. There was just enough of this and character development to keep me interested in learning more about the lives of the MC's to follow in subsequent books in the series.
While I don't often enjoy books written in 3rd person, this one was great despite some minor technical issues I had with jumps into the characters thoughts that threw me off slightly.
Pacing slows down a little towards the middle of the book, but just like I found in Quicksilver...keep going!
That ending!!! I will be hanging out for the next book, for sure.

You will appreciate this one if you love #second chance romance #LGBTQ+ #Feminine Rage #Found Family #Unique Magic System #TRAUMA bonds

Thank you for Netgalley for this ARC!! This book surprised me in the best way. I went in expecting a dark fantasy with some fire and flair, and it delivered. The world feels vivid, dangerous, and strangely beautiful. The magic system is fierce and raw, and the Hell Witch herself? Powerful, angry, and real. I loved that she wasn’t a “perfect” heroine—she’s messy, driven, and haunted by her past in ways that made her feel completely human.

I enjoyed the writing style and truly felt immersed in this book! This book made me feel like I was standing in the flames right alongside Prudence, and I’m still thinking about that ending.

This story was so interesting from the start. I loved the show don’t tell aspects, especially when it came to the character Mari (yay for representation that was beautiful and not forced). I loved learning about the radical religion/politics and how the sisterhood of the Hell Witches formed and continued.

I also enjoyed the multi POV aspects!