Read if: you love a second chance romance or you're looking for a dark feminist fantasy

I don't know what I expected from this book but I know it exceeded my expectations with a unique magic system, a romance that felt realistic and true to the characters, and a world that was a dark fantasy reflection of our own.

The main characters felt flawed and real and their slowly blossoming second chance romance felt true to them and the world. I loved Pru's ambition, anger, and heart - she's complicated, powerful, and a compelling main character.

This is clearly a novel built on strong feminist and pro-LGBTQ ideals and these messages felt naturally built into the world and this book. It feels very relevant to our world today and manages to tackle a lot of different themes without ever feeling too heavy handed.

While this book did lag a bit in the middle I thought that most of it was a well-paced, action filled, adventure with the author manging to weave both a compelling fantasy tale and a heartfelt romance story into this book. There were definitely enough questions and mysteries at the end of this book to make me look forward to the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy read well paced and really interesting. I loved how the world was set up and the characters where really well thought out

Rating: 4.25/5

I was hooked from page one. The writing is sharp, the pacing kept me locked in, and the world is full of badass women you can’t help but root for. The feminist edge to the story was so well done, and Bea totally stole the show, to the point where I had to keep reminding myself she was only eight! I loved the slow-burn pull between Pru and Puck. Their chemistry was so good, and the moments they shared had this electric tension that made me wish we got just a bit more. Still, I get that the spice wasn’t the point of the story. I’m dying to see how Bea and Mari grow into their magic, and I need Pru to get her full Hell Witch moment (ideally with a blade in one hand and vengeance in the other). I seriously loved this book and can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.

Definitely had me hooked, a great fantasy read! This is a fantasy book, with a slight bit of romance... that is very themed toward the strength of women and fighting back against oppression, in a world (in the Middle Ages?) where magical women are hunted down. Seems like it may be an introduction to a possible series as well, putting on my list to watch out for a possible sequel release.

Parts of the explanation of the magic almost seemed to contradict themselves, so I believe that could have been explained/written better. I, personally, didn't care for the interludes either and didn't feel that they added anything to the story, especially since the villain seemed underdeveloped.

Overall, this book had a unique concept, and the author did a great job in the imagery to be able to visualize and understand this world they live in. The sheer differences in the type of magic and how it produced itself physically was very interesting. I am not a romance person, so I was glad not to be reading that as the main theme through the book. I would definitely look into reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I really wanted to love this book since it sounded right up my alley. However, I really struggled to get into it and stay interested. This is definitely a book a lot of people will love, but sadly, it wasn’t for me.

A book about witches wanting to bring the downfall of the patriarchy? Sign me the hell up. I couldn't find info about this but just a headsup this book is not a standalone and it certainly is left on a cliffhanger.

Song of the Hell Witches is a fantasy, but the story has so many parallels with what is going on in today's world, particularly in the US - when it comes to women's rights, religion, bodily autonomy, among others. I had conflicting thoughts around the FMC, Pru. I loved her fierceness and how driven she was, but I'm not sure how I feel about her essentially giving herself up and settling with a man who fetishized her people to become a "Silk" (essentially a member of high society). I do appreciate the fact that she is a complex character. I adored the MMC, Puck, and so many of the side characters, particularly Mari, Bea, and Arcadie. I love the queer and trans rep in the story.

The magic system was interesting - women in the story gain their powers through experiencing traumatic events. The world building could have been more expansive, but I hope we'll see more in book 2. The foundation that Taylor Hartley set in book 1 was enough for me, especially as someone who can easily get overwhelmed with too much info. I was glad the book focused more on the characters and their stories - past and present. Taylor certainly includes commentary around toxic masculinity throughout the whole book through the society she built as well as through Puck, the MMC. Puck is wildly protective of the people he loves, particularly his daughter, Bea, but he's not inherently or randomly violent. He is kind and compassionate and he will happily let women take the lead any day.

Just a headsup that the romance is. A. Slow. Burn. There is SO much yearning on both sides. I loved the angst and the tension between Puck and Pru. They have so much history and I am always such a sucker for a second-chance romance. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Taylor Hartley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I picked up this book purely for the vibes, and it was my first read from Hartley. The central concept is brilliant: “Hell Witches” is a term men in this society have coined for women (gorgons, succubi, banshees, and more) who awaken with supernatural powers. Each ability is tied to the trauma they’ve endured and the thing they needed most in their most vulnerable moments. It’s a powerful piece of feminist storytelling, and easily the strongest aspect of the novel.

The protagonists are older than the typical 18–20-year-olds common in recent Romantasy, which I found refreshing. The story centers on a second-chance romance between a former street thief turned duchess and her first love, a widowed father raising his young daughter. There’s also some thoughtful queer representation.

Where the book stumbled for me was in its execution. The romance was fine but not especially compelling, the characters aren't super memorable, and the worldbuilding felt underdeveloped. The villains, while menacing, were a bit too one-dimensional and their motivations never fully convinced me. Still, as the first entry in a series, it lays interesting groundwork. I may continue on to book two depending on early reviews.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. Rating: 3.5/5

Beautiful cover art and the story is an adventure. Fantasy for me pulls me out of the read world and with this book I found my mind going on a lot of tangents to current events and what is questions. Deciding to give someone another chance is really a difficult choice. Do they deserve it? Are they doing this for their own forginesse or to earn it from the proper place.
Women, witches, always in hiding and always holding everything together with little or no credit. At least this world has magic.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an AR.

This felt like another it just wasn't for me. I think there are fantastic themes in this book. It has feminine rage and there is magic only women have. I just didn't enjoy how this book was executed. I didn't enjoy the pacing of the book. However I do think that many readers will enjoy this book.

**Thank you to Alcove Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

There were quite a few aspects of this book that I really liked! But things started to go a little downhill for me after the halfway mark. To be honest, the 3 stars feels a little like a generous rating, but that's more for the pieces that I did like.

Okay, for the things that I did like:
- The magic system is for women. Only women have abilities and magic, and that was such a unique concept that I really liked! Just a warning though that women only reach their powers through the trauma that they have experienced in their lives. That is how their magic manifests. It's a unique and interesting system, but it relies on the fact that all women experience trauma - which of course has truth, but is kind of sad to see. I do like how it harnesses it into being their source of power and strength.
- I liked the characters. Prudence is actually a great character. She has growth and her motives change based on what they were in the past and at the beginning of the book. She is strong, powerful, and looks out for not only herself but others that she cares about. Puck is also a great character, who changed up his life from the past Puck that Prudence knew, and is a caring - yet slightly overbearing - father. Him and Prudence re-connecting is fantastic. I also really liked the side characters, like Mari, Beatrice, and Arcadie. Arcadie and Mari are such fantastic characters, and are so integral to the story. Same with Bea. She is the whole reason for the story.

Now the things that I didn't like:
- This is such a petty one, but what is with all the characters with "P" names? Prudence, Puck, Paris. It got a little annoying to constantly be ready Pru and Puck together. But that's probably just me...
- Paris, the "villain," who doesn't really amount to a full villain, gets chapters from his perspective. I don't understand why we get a POV from him. I pretty much never want the "why" behind a villain other than their reasons and why they are doing what they are doing. Honestly, the backstory didn't add to anything for his character. It gave a little detail as to why he was following Hale, but I think that could have been given to the readers in other ways. His chapters especially felt unnecessary with the ending of the book. Which just made me more annoyed that I had to read them.
- Like I said, I found the magic system unique. But there was never anything really explained for the "rules" of the magic, and it seemingly changed halfway through. We all of a sudden found out that there was a process the men could do to gain their own powers, but based on the women's magic. BUT then it changes and adds new things halfway through that honestly didn't make sense with the rest of the story and the magic. I like things to be clear for how the magic system works, not adding in new things part way through the story.
- I think my biggest issue, is that this didn't really seem like a romantasy to me? I would argue this is fantasy with some romance... the two characters don't get together until almost the end of the book, and then the way that it ends kind of gives a hint that there are going to be a lot more barriers for them to be together.

I also never saw anything that this was going to be a series - in the synopsis or on the bookish apps. But this definitely ends with a cliffhanger, so prepare yourself that this will be a series.

This definitely isn't a bad book, I just had my own issues with how certain things played out or were set up in the book. I think it can definitely work for a lot of people.

This is now being added into my rotation of books to scream about at people.

I have so many thoughts and feelings about this book that they are jumbling together into dozens of incomplete thoughts and incoherent sentences.

One thing I have been drawn to in *many* of my top reads this year are oppressive systems of government. (Who really can blame me when this *gestures around emphatically* is the norm?)

If you loved Blood Over Bright Haven but wanted more magic and romance, read this.

If you loved Terror at the Gates but wanted a more historical vibe and more religious zealotry, read this.

If you want not just a queer-normative world but a queer celebration, read this.

Song of the Hell Witch is guaranteed to make you angry and it should. In Leora, women transform into Hell Witches after a significant trauma. All women have the ability to transform, it is not by bloodline or chance or training or socioeconomic class.

This is a very queer-forward book and it is ✨exquisite✨ for that. It is specifically stated that trans women ARE women and also have the ability to transform just like a cis woman.

The themes of women protecting women hits so close to home and definitely brings in vibes of Giulia Tofana and the Angel Makers of Nagyrév.

I would definitely pick up more books from this author. The queer rep was great, I loved the voice given to feminine rage, and the fast pace had me racing through to the end.

Definitely recommend. More detailed review to come in September!

The plot was engaging (hitting on almost all-too familiar topics), the characters were colorful and well developed, and I loved the story's diversity, along with its' queer representation.

**Features:**

- Feminine rage
- Strong LGBTQIA+ representation
- Second chance romance where one person is a single parent
- Religious fanaticism, oppression, patriarchy, and resistance

**Synopsis:**

Trauma can both test and shape a person. For women like Prudence Merriweather, it transforms them. Those whose magic awakens and transforms them into creatures of myth are known as Hell Witches by the pious people of Leora. Prudence has fought and lied her way from a thief on the streets to the powerful Duchess of Talonsbury, but as a new wave of religious fanaticism spreads through Leora, not even her new position can protect her. When her secret is exposed, she has no choice but to turn to her childhood friend Puck Reed to smuggle her out of the country. Meanwhile, Puck has issues of his own as he tries to find a cure to the mysterious illness that has taken hold of his daughter. Both freedom and potential answers lie in a place called Stormlash, but it will take all of their strength to make sure everyone reaches it alive.

**Thoughts:**

This book is your classic witch tale thrown into an interesting fantasy world with a dash of second chance romance. The result is something that feels familiar, but also brings some interesting characters and ideas to the table. I agree that this book is very reminiscent of When Women Were Dragons with the oppression of women leading to magical transformation into pretty much magical creatures. However, with a more medieval setting and the presence of a fanatical religious order hunting these women down, this book is more traditional in how it explores ‘witches’, feminine rage, and oppression. I haven’t read One Dark Window, but I have some suspicions on why its magic system has been compared to the one in this book. However, I think some of my thoughts might be a little spoilery, so I will leave it at; I can see where they are coming from…but you probably won’t get the same exact feeling.

I am definitely of two minds about this book. What brought my rating up from 3 stars to 4 was the world building and how well I thought LGBTQ+ voices were brought into the conversation. I wish the nature of the magical transformations Prudence and others experienced was explored a little more, but otherwise this was a world that felt unique while also clearly integrating real-world patterns/ideas. Though a lot of the focus is on the treatment of women and ‘Hell Witches’ in this society, we also get the perspective of a trans woman named Mari. Mari is not only a delight as a character, but also provides a unique perspective on an oppressive and fanatical society that violently rejects anything it considers ‘other’. Both of these elements really elevated this story and helped me buy in.

Prudence and Puck are the main characters and romantic interests in this story. I am a sucker
for a single father character and Bea, Puck’s daughter, is very endearing. I wasn’t sure how well Prudence would fit into the mix, but it ended up being a charming group and I am really invested in seeing where things go from here. However, these characters also mostly stay within their given archetypes and they never felt quite as ‘real’ as I wish they would. In both their characterization and in the storytelling itself, you would have these beautiful and/or impactful moments suddenly followed by something that felt really contrived and undermined the work that was done. There is almost no subtlety in how the story explores its themes or unveils its world, but that’s not necessarily bad or unexpected.

Overall, while this book didn’t fully wow me, it was a fun read that played around with familiar ideas in interesting ways.

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was well paced and the characters were well written. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This one was just fine and didn't ever really capture my attention. It was similar to a lot of existing romantasy and didn't really bring anything new. I did like the lgbtq representation with bisexual fmc and a trans main character. The plot was just very predictable and struggle to finish past 70%. I probably wont pick up the sequel since I never cared about the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fierce, fresh, and ferociously paced, Song of the Hell Witch is not to be missed!

Readers follow Prudence Merriweather and Puck Reed, former lovers who find themselves, years later, on opposite ends of society. Pru, having wielded her dark and dangerous magic, has clawed her way to the top, while Puck remains a champion for the lower class. When Pru's magic goes awry, she’s forced to abandon her comfortable life and rely on her former flame for safe passage out of the city. There’s a problem, though: Puck’s life has changed considerably since he and Pru ran the streets together, and she soon learns that his priorities may no longer bend to her will!

This book will charm the reluctant romantasy readers while still wowing the devoted romantasy crowd—a rare combo! The second-chance romance and flashback structure cleverly bypass the insta-love trope while still diving headfirst into the longing of it all. The characters are nuanced and mature, which is a rarity within the genre. The story itself is a fierce and powerful exploration of women, the lot they’re often handed, and how they collectively fight patriarchal oppression for the good of all.

Song of the Hell Witch subverts expectations, offering a fresh take within its genre while still delivering the romance, breakneck pacing, and pure joy of romantasy. You'll want this one on your fall TBR folk!
.
Endless thanks to alcovepress for granting my request for a gifted copy!!

LEORA. PROVINCE OF TALONSBURY. This is a story of second chances in love and life. When injustice and rage meet, something magical can flourish within Leoran women—an opportunity to raise their voice and take agency over their lives.

After twelve years, Prudence Merriweather and Puck Reed meet again. But now they meet as Duchess of Talonsbury and the Podge’s Thief Lord. Once upon a time, they were River Rats, surviving by thieving to keep their bellies full. Their lives strayed apart from each other, but Pru kept Puck close to her heart, wearing the ruby pendant he gifted her all those years ago. She had always dreamt of a life of lush dresses and admiration. Being the wife of the Duke of Talonsbury made that dream come true, and yet something was lacking in her life.

A Hell Witch was what Leoran called women with magic in their blood that changed them into fantastical beasts after experiencing hardship in their lives, and Pru was one of them. The Lightbringer Apostles reproached them, and after an unfortunate event, Pru has to escape and finds herself back in Puck’s life. But his life purpose lies in finding a way to cure her daughter Beatrice’s illness. And there might be a chance for both Bea and Pru to find a cure and hope amongst the Spectabra Daughters of Stormlash.

“Never underestimate the power of an enraged woman, remember?”

My favourite season is the fall of patriarchy, and I will always eat up any story in which we have a bunch of women and queer characters that kick ass. Love it when fantasy settings not only have interesting worldbuilding to get lost in but also make you reflect on our world’s social issues and its history. I also very much enjoyed Pru and Puck’s dynamic of angsty yearning and playful banter; it really shows that the existing spark between them has the opportunity to rekindle. And that ending got me shaking and screaming, beyond excited to know what is to come!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

- second chance romance
- feminine rage
- YA dark high fantasy
- sociopolitical commentary
- sapphic, trans & non-binary rep
- witches, vultresses, succubi, banshees
- first in a series
- 3rd person multi-POV

OH MYYYYYY DAYS. I am so glad I found this book when I did — it kept me from slipping into a reading slump and I was screeching uncontrollably through those last few pages like WOAH. woah.

If there's anything I like more than a fantasy book, it is a fantasy book with feminine rage spilling through the corners and searing the pages, and Song of the Hell Witch delivers so beautifully. It is a high fantasy that touches the seams of reality so closely — its world-building so intricate, its women so multi-layered in a world that oppresses them. Everything links so closely to today's reality, the metaphors for marginalisation & demonisation of women & queer folk have you tearing.

You can't help but marvel at Pru, and rage and root for the revenge she deserves after being wronged time and time again.

This has such strong Grishaverse vibes too -- like if you enjoy Leigh Bardugo's worlds, this is the read that will fill the void the cancellation of that Netflix series has left in you (and I don't give out comparisons to SOC casually). I see Nikolai Lantsov in the MMC & the main characters have a past of thievery T-T

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!! There are a lot of good things to say about this. Magic, religious trauma, romance, wrath, revenge, and a little bit of hope (only a little). This is going to be a lot of fun going forward. I'm just disappointed I can't read it now.