Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This feminist romantasy sounded like something I’d like a lot and it started out well. I loved the second chance romance angle premise between a street-rat-thief-turned-duchess and thief lord papa, and the trauma-based system was really interesting.

I felt a bit let down on the nuance of it all though. Although there was some attempt at it, I just thought there’d be more depth. The main and side characters (quite a nice range in rep) were interesting, although could’ve also been more complex. With the way they’re set up though, I can see this aspect being developed more in a sequel. A lot of the internal thoughts jolted me out the narrative with how they were written and inserted, but by the end I guess it made sense why the author used this format.

Prose served the story: easily readable, standard type.

The anger this book is meant to reflect definitely came through, so if that’s your jam, you’ll love this book.

Song of the Hell Witch is absolutely captivating! Taylor Hartley weaves a dark, mesmerizing tale that had me hooked from the very beginning. The writing is lush and vivid, pulling you into a world that feels both dangerous and beautiful. The main character was fierce, complex, and unforgettable — I loved following her journey through heartbreak, power, and self-discovery. The pacing was perfect, the plot kept me guessing, and the emotional depth made it so much more than just a fantasy story. If you’re looking for a haunting, powerful read that stays with you long after the last page, this book is it.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

If you’re craving a feminist romantasy packed with magic, second chances, and fierce heroines, Song of the Hell Witch absolutely delivers. It’s an atmospheric, emotionally charged debut that feels both empowering and heart-wrenching, with a fresh take on magic, love, and survival.

The story follows Prudence Merriweather, a woman who has fought her way from the streets to duchess status—hiding her monstrous magic under layers of decorum to survive in a harshly patriarchal world. When her secret slips, she’s forced to flee the city with the help of her childhood best friend and lost love, Puck Reed, now a father desperate to save his ailing daughter. Their journey to Stormlash—a rumored safe haven for women like Prudence—is dangerous, emotional, and full of simmering chemistry.

One of the strongest elements here is the magic system: dark, visceral, and deeply tied to the anger and repression of women. It’s woven beautifully into the story’s themes of resistance and resilience. I also loved the strong LGBTQ+ representation and the layered relationships between the characters—found family, old friends, new allies.

Puck, though charming and heartfelt, sometimes felt a little uneven to me, especially early on. His speech patterns seemed inconsistent, and I struggled to get a full visual of him without extra context. Still, his devotion to his daughter and his rekindling connection with Prudence made him a character I rooted for by the end.

The pacing was my biggest challenge. The first half of the book moves slowly, with a lot of buildup before the story’s emotional and action-packed core really kicks in. Once it does, though, the payoff is strong—and by the final chapters, I was fully invested.

Final Thoughts:
Song of the Hell Witch is a dark, hopeful romantasy about monstrous women stepping into their true power, old loves finding their way back to each other, and the fierce, often messy fight for freedom. Perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent and Hannah Whitten. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

The Song of the Hell Witch follows Prudence, an oppressed Hell witch, who accidently kills her husband and flees to an old lover to help smuggle her out of her hometown. Puck, needs the help of a group of hell witches in order to save his daughter who has a deathly illness.

I really enjoyed the idea of this book. I thought the whole feminism aspect to the book was original and well thought through and liked how it represented through the characters.

Unfortunately, it took me so long to get into this book that I lost interest a lot. I also felt confused quite alot, with a lot of names being thrown around particularly at the beginning, names of places, people and groups that gave no context. It kind of felt like we were dropped into a story half way through. I think it’s quite difficult to start a story based on two characters that already knew each other previously but it also felt like the story itself didn’t start from the beginning either.

Overall, unfortunately I don’t think this book was for me but best of luck with your publication!

This book is going to live rent free in my head for the unforeseeable future. I was intrigued by the blurb offering us a second chance romance, a fantasy setting, and women with monstrous powers. I stayed for the feminist rage that absolutely BURNED through this novel, the world building that was original but not overwhelming, and the characters that I fell deeply in love with.

'Song of the Hell Witch' explores a lot of the themes that women have suffered through history: property of their husbands, without the right to vote, not having a voice in the choices that are made for them. Then we get the Hell Witches. Women who come into power during a traumatic event in their lives. In the fashion of true history, these women have to keep their powers, their other selves, hidden away for fear of persecution. When they band together though? The Ladies of Lenora are terrifying in their power, and ceaseless in their mission to help other women who find themselves powerless in adversity.

The romantic tension between Puck and Prudence is delicious, keeping me guessing long through the novel. LGTBQIA+ representation? This novel should be the gold standard for having a diverse cast of characters, all of whom I fell in love with. (Except Paris.) The world building was next level, and I was never overwhelmed with an info dump during the novel like some fantasy novels can do. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT ENDING?!?! I needed the next story like 10 minutes ago.

This novel is the gold standard for everything that I look for in a good fantasy novel. I will be anxiously keeping my eyes peeled for news of a follow up book to 'Song of the Hell Witch'.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an eARC of this novel.

4.5 stars!

What a powerful, magical debut. Song of the Hell Witch is a blazing, empowering fantasy about what it means to reclaim your power when the world is ready to burn you at the stake.

The story follows Prudence, a woman who accidentally kills her husband and exposes herself as a Hell Witch—a fate that instantly marks her for death by the zealous Faith of the Lightbringer. Alongside her is Puck, a father desperately trying to save his sick daughter, Bea. They were once sweethearts, and now they’re reluctantly reunited on a dangerous journey to Stormlash, a sanctuary for hell witches and, hopefully, a place of healing for Puck’s daughter.

From the start, I was captivated by the unique magic system and the brilliant lore. It was compared to One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, and that comparison is spot on: the systems are completely different, but both are imaginative, vivid, and so original and unique!
There’s a lot thrown at you in the beginning; world-building, history, politics, characters. I’ll admit, I stumbled a bit to keep up. But once it clicks? It clicks. The world is immersive, the writing rich and lyrical, the pacing relentless in the best way. I genuinely didn’t want to put this book down, and when I did, I kept thinking about it!

Pru is a phenomenal main character. She’s fierce, flawed, vulnerable, and resilient. Her journey, both magical and emotional, is full of pain, doubt, and moments of terrifying self-realization, but she never gives up. I rooted for her every step of the way. She's such a strong woman, and grows even stronger and more confident in herself throughout the story.
Now, Puck… oh, Puck. I have feelings. He’s flawed, sometimes infuriating, especially early on, and I definitely wanted to shake him a few times. His treatment of Pru, while understandable in context, still made my heart ache. But his growth is genuine, and by the end, I found myself rooting for him despite my earlier reservations. He’s funny, charming, and his love for Bea is undeniable (their father-daughter relationship was such a highlight for me!).

But let’s talk about the romance because oh my god. It hurt in the best, worst ways.
Pru and Puck’s relationship is a second-chance romance drenched in angst, pain, and unresolved emotions. Normally, I steer clear of romances where the man is a widower, but this one worked—because it hurts. The love between them is complicated and heavy with history. There’s guilt, betrayal, deep longing, and so much left unsaid between them. As I said, I wasn’t a huge fan of how Puck treated Pru early on. He was harsh, distant, and at times, downright mean. Yes, he was hurt. But it often felt like he couldn’t imagine being worried about his daughter and still caring about Pru at the same time. Like he didn’t believe it was possible to hold both love and betrayal in the same hand. Spoiler: it is, Puck! I wanted some groveling, honestly.
But... he grows. Slowly, painfully. And when he lets down his walls, there’s real charm and vulnerability there. His love for Bea was never in question, but once he starts showing up for Pru too? That’s when I started forgiving him. The payoff from all the earlier hurt made those softer moments between them land even harder. And yes, he’s funny and charming, and yes, by the end, I did fall for him a little too.
I do still feel like Pru loved him a bit more than he loved her. That imbalance stung. She was willing to burn the world down for him, and I wasn’t always convinced he’d do the same. I need my fictional men wrecked without their love interest, and Puck didn’t always deliver on that front. But there's still the next book that could change my mind!

The side characters are just as memorable as the main characters, each with their own goals, motivations and personalities. The villain POV snippets? Chef’s kiss. They added so much depth and menace, giving the world a chilling, grounded realism. And the diversity and representation throughout the book? Beautiful. It never felt forced—it just was, in the best, most natural way!

If you like stories with forbidden magic, female rage and empowerment, rich world-building, aching second chances, and magic systems that feel completely fresh, this is for you!
Also, THAT ENDING?? Criminal. I need book two immediately.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Follow Prudence on a gripping journey filled with danger, second chances, and unexpected bonds. This story pulled me in from the start, balancing heartache, hope, and high-stakes moments in a way that kept me turning pages late into the night.

What stood out most was how authentic the characters felt—like people you might brush past on the street, with stories you’d want to stop and hear. The writing has a lyrical edge to it, but never loses its emotional punch. I constantly found myself torn between feelings—conflicted, moved, and absolutely hooked.

I’m dying to see where things go next for Bea, Pru, Puck, and the rest of this unforgettable cast. Bring on the sequel!

Taylor Hartley delivers a fierce, atmospheric, and emotionally charged dark fantasy in Song of the Hell Witch, the first installment in what promises to be an unforgettable series.

Set in a deeply patriarchal world ruled by faith and fear, this book follows Prudence Merriweather — a newly crowned duchess with a dangerous secret buried in both blood and bone. What begins as a slow unraveling of identity and class tension quickly ignites into a full-throttle story of survival, rebellion, and monstrous magic. Hartley weaves in visceral transformation scenes, sharp political commentary, and aching emotional depth without ever losing momentum.

Prudence is a heroine you root for and ache for — a woman shaped by trauma, haunted by her past, and constantly navigating a world that was never built for her. From lavish courtly balls to fugitive escapes and quiet moments of tenderness, every chapter pulses with tension and longing. The magic system is rich and mythic, with Hell Witches — cursed, revered, and hunted — at the heart of it all. And the prose? Lyrical and brutal in all the right places.

A tale of resilience, rage, and reclaiming power in a world built to silence them.

I had a really good time reading this. I loved the magic system, the different types of Hell Witch and the feminist rage that seeped off every chapter.

The LGBTQ+ themes running throughout were great and loved the relationships created.

I struggled with Puck a little, the description of him when we first meet didn’t feel cohesive. I think it might be the way he speaks at the beginning? He’s very cockney and then doesn’t keep this up throughout the book? And I struggled to picture him or get a sense of what he looked like so I felt some more fleshing out could be done there. I wanted to really fall in love with him but it wasn’t until I went on the Authors instagram and saw a picture they’d put up of their image of him that it clicked.

I will absolutely be reading the second instalment!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222420130

This book had some intriguing premises (the mood and setting reminded me a bit of Godkiller), but the pacing and the way certain worldbuilding elements and information were introduced made it harder for me to stay fully engaged. Let’s break it down.

The core idea is compelling and definitely fits into that more niche, slightly ‘edgy’ category — not necessarily aimed at the mainstream, but likely to find a devoted audience. It’s very LGBTQ+ friendly, a bit unconventional, and leans heavily into themes of female rage (perhaps a bit too much for my personal taste, especially if you’re not particularly fond of the ‘men are awful’ narrative). The magic system is intricate, which contrasts with a plot that feels relatively simple in comparison.

While these strong elements give the book a bold identity, they sometimes make the reading experience feel overwhelming or uneven. I found the middle section particularly slow, only for the story to wrap up a bit too quickly and anticlimactically — especially the group’s arrival at the coven, which felt surprisingly easy and underwhelming. The ending includes a plot twist that hints the book isn’t a standalone, which came as a bit of a surprise.

The antagonists didn’t quite resonate with me; they felt underdeveloped and lacked a strong motivation, though I did appreciate the reasoning behind their pursuit of the Hell Witches.

Overall, while I admire the book’s ambition and its attempt to stand apart from the typical romantasy genre (and to be fair, I wouldn’t really classify it as such), it didn’t quite work for me personally. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, as it felt somewhat forgettable despite its desire to be distinct.

*Thank you to NetGalley for this eArc**

Song of the Hell Witch merges aristocratic grace with forbidden magic, centering on Prudence—a duchess hiding her “hell witch” identity after a disastrous turn of events forces her to flee. Accompanied by Puck, an old flame she never truly forgot, and his daughter Bea, she heads north in search of a rumored haven for others like her. Their journey brims with tension and hints of rekindled romance, all while shadowy enemies scheme to expose her lethal powers.

Taylor Hartley infuses the story with court intrigue, emotional entanglements, and just enough edge-of-your-seat danger to keep the pages turning. There’s some LGBT representation and a character who uses “they” pronouns—elements I found somewhat confusing or unnecessary, but that others may enjoy. By the final pages, a dramatic twist catapults the story toward a cliffhanger that leaves you eager for more. If you love high-stakes fantasy threaded with hidden magic, second-chance love, and a dash of peril, Song of the Hell Witch offers a thrilling ride that ends far too soon.

I did not want this book to end! It was dark and emotional, providing raw examples of feminine rage and brutal effects of trauma, yet simultaneously so lovely and touching. There was the perfect balance of women finding community and empowerment while also experiencing beautiful romance. On top of that, it was very inclusive! At this point we all know that being a woman doesn't only include being born as a presenting one, and this book shows just that. The pacing started off quick, with just enough background information and world building to pull me in without being overwhelming. We meet the majority of our MC's early on and are provided with mainly two separate 3rd person POV's, along with a few random glimpses from other characters throughout the novel.

This book did a wonderful job encapsulating some of the horrors women experience and feel while living in a patriarchal society. Trauma is a near guarantee, unfortunately, but seeing our female characters quite literally find their own power was just incredible to read and visualize. It was tough but necessary to see what happened to some of these women after their devastating life experiences. Past trauma may make us act "ugly" and brutal, which can be awfully jarring when women are raised to care about nothing but how we appear to others. But, that should not be the standard. Beauty and image are not the most important aspects of being a woman despite what society preaches.

The romance was a lovely but heartbreaking slow burn. Our MFC and MMC knew each other from before the start of the novel, but Hartley did an incredible job catching the reader up on their history. Our characters are mature and the dialog truly captures that which was so nice to read. I enjoyed the realistic contrast of positive and toxic masculinity; especially when it came to the different reactions from women who have been burned by men in the past.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about strong and resourceful female characters who also want to be loved. The last 10% was intense and I really did not know how it was going to end. I am now very impatiently waiting for book two! (yes I am devastated that this book is not even released yet)

ARC provided for an honest review.

✨✨✨Feminist. Witch. Romantasy. ✨✨✨

Song of the Hell Witch started out at such a slow pace for me and I had a difficult time really getting into it, but the story is fantastic.

I LOVE that it’s a feminist romantasy with witches! What’s not to love there?!! I did enjoy the plot and the idea behind it. Also, I really liked Puck and the romance, and the world was very interesting too!

Unfortunately, this one was SO difficult to get into the whole first half of the book. It was just such a slog for me to get through! The slowness is the only thing I didn’t like about the book though, everything else was great and I did enjoy the overall story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released September 9, 2025.

This was a great fantasy book! The magic system was very well written and well thought out. I loved this book so much and could not put it down.

Taylor Hartley has delivered a breath of fresh air to the genre with Song of the Hell Witch.

From page one, I was brought into a world that was built with care and didn't require 200 pages of world building. I didn't need a diagram to follow along with the politics and the magic system the witches possess, which allowed the story to build effortlessly.

Each character Hartley created was a joy to interact with. More importantly, I cared about what was happening to them. In a land filled with religious upheaval where women of all kinds are struggling to find their voices, their unique stories create a rich tapestry, woven together to fight the oppression of those trying to keep them down.

For fans of strong female characters, Pru is the truest embodiment of this that I've ever read. She doesn't get in her own way, and while there is a romantic subplot in this book, she isn't reliant on that as a major part of her character.

This was a quick read, and I'm dying to know what happens next. I highly recommend reading this book!

Join Pru as she fights her way to safety, rekindles her first love, and makes new friends. This book is full of emotion and adventure. I truly enjoyed it. All of the characters felt so real. Like they could be someone that I could meet in passing some day. It was beautifully written and emotionally twisty. I never really knew how to feel because there were so many emotions that felt necessary but they were all so conflicting.
I cannot wait for the rest of this series to find out what happens with Bea, Prudence, Puck, and everyone else.

Glorious writing - magic, strong female leads, action and romance. Hints of women’s fights for emancipation. I loved it, fantastic read highly recommended, Thank you to the author, surely there are more books coming? Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Song of the Hell Witch by Taylor Hartley is a dark, evocative fantasy that blends rich world-building with powerful social commentary. Set in a world where women with powerful magic are oppressed by a patriarchal society, the book offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of feminism and fantasy.

The protagonist, Prudence Merriweather, is a "hell witch" — a term used by the oppressive religious regime to label women who have endured trauma and now wield magical power. When her powers are exposed, she’s forced to flee with the help of her childhood friend and former love, Puck Reed—now a reluctant criminal trying to save his sick daughter. Their journey toward a rumoured magical haven, Stormlash, is fraught with danger, unspoken truths, and the rising threat of a dark force consuming their homeland.

The beauty of this novel lies not only in its atmospheric world, but also in how it reflects our current socio-political climate. The “hell witches” are essentially women trying to heal from past trauma and create a safer world for other women. Hartley’s exploration of these themes — the fine line between empowerment and destruction, the complexities of female relationships, and the impact of toxic masculinity — adds a depth to the story that will resonate with many readers.

Prudence’s journey alongside Puck is emotionally raw and deeply satisfying. The romance is beautifully intertwined with themes of power, sacrifice, and healing, while the action and adventure keep the story moving at a thrilling pace. There’s a strong feminist backbone to this narrative, particularly in the solidarity between women, and the emotional stakes of the characters are incredibly high.

With its complex characters, immersive magic system, and a relevant message about power dynamics and female empowerment, Song of the Hell Witch is a must-read for fans of feminist fantasy, morally complex characters, and stories that challenge societal norms.

Something that stood out to me with this, in the way it featured women empowering each other, was the solidarity shown between the women in the book in both small acts of kindness and big feats of bravery. The characters and story are solid with a good balance of romance and action and the whole theme of the power of women is strong. This book explores feminity, the dynamics of female relationships, toxic masculinity but also healthy masculinity and the both romantic and platonic love

Due to the traumatic experiences our main character has had, she is now considered a "hell witch" (a term coined by the religious weirdos/zealots/whatever you wanna call them of this fantasy world).

This was a really cool magic system/world/I'm not sure what to call that aspect of this book. But it also feels very relevant to what's going on in the world (especially the US) today. These "hell witches" are really just feminists trying to heal from past trauma and to make the world a better and safer place for women, and they happen to also be magical creatures. So if you liked feminism and magical creatures, this is a fantasy for you!

We get to see a lot of different things in this book that show how complicated life can be, dealing with past relationships, dealing with insecure and toxic men, power hungry individuals, and everybody trying to prove their point in whatever way they can. There are so many character arcs in this story that we follow in this book.

I did find this writing style to be a tad slow for my taste (but that is totally personal preference, so you may not care at all about that), but this was really cool to read. And I think it helps to educate about what is currently going on in the US without making it overwhelming since it is in a magical world and not here (easier to handle when you can separate yourself from it for a second while still knowing in the back of your mind).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.