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!

Song of the Hell Witch was such a great read--solid world building, politics that made sense, feminist themes, and diverse characters! Prudence was a well developed character that I happily rooted for. The second chance romance was believable. Adventure fantasy is always so fun. I think our customers will adore this one and I can't wait to shove it into their hands!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Song of the Hell Witch is a story about women fighting back against oppressive forces with monstrous magic. It is about women stepping into their powers, embracing who they are, and fighting for themselves and other women. But it is also a story about rekindled love and second chances. About the unending love of a father for his daughter.

Admittedly, it took me a little longer than I would have liked to get through this novel--which is more my fault than anything else--but that did affect how much I remembered and my ability to stay in the story itself. I enjoyed exploring the magic of women in this novel and how differently that magic manifested across women, including trans women.

Overall, I think that magic system was the main reason for my enjoyment of the novel. I did enjoy Pru and Puck's characters, but felt like their romance was a little too quickly rekindled. I think I needed them to have more conversations regarding their feelings and show their continued love for each other despite the years a part. I don't doubt the emotions between them, but rather felt like the confession/declaration of love wasn't completely earned. I'm sorry if that sounds a little confusing! Again, I really like them together, I think I just needed a little more.

I didn't know if this book was a standalone when I first picked it up, but far warning that it is the first in a series(?) and does end on a cliffhanger. I'm interested to see where the story goes and will definitely be picking up a copy when it comes out in September!

I have read 40% of the book so far, and do not believe it’s for me.

The premise grabbed my attention & I like the idea of the story, but the execution so far has been seriously lacking. The way information is presented is frustrating. More often than not, I felt like I was being told to feel a certain way without being shown it. The way the narrative flips from past to present without a proper transition is also jarring.

Most importantly, the main character Prudence feels empty. She’s very reactionary & doesn’t have much emotional depth other than survive the night.

I do not post negative reviews of books I recieved for free on my Instagram account.

If you really love second chance romance you will probably like this book, as it is more romance than fantasy. It is a sweet, second chance romance with a lot of wicked twists and turns, and the MMC is a good natured male, who really cares about the women around him, even though this book is set in a very misogynistic world.

The Fantasy storyline and magic system is unique and the inclusion in this book is really phenomenal! It’s full of justified female rage and powerful women.

Unfortunately I had a really hard time staying engaged with the story. It dragged along, and the romance alone wasn’t enough to keep me engaged, finishing it felt like a chore. I like my romance to be a little darker, and my fantasy to be a little more complex. I would have given this book 2 stars, but the inclusion and currently relevant allegory earned it another star.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Something fresh for the fantasy genre. Unique magic system and a story filled with women empowerment. Female rage and found family. The LGBTQ rep was absolutely stunning. While also tackling harder subjects such as religion and patriarchy. This was a beautiful book. I highly recommend it.

Wow. This book delivers some of the best LGBTQ+ representation I’ve read in a fantasy setting, with authentic and well-written queer characters who feel integral to the world rather than tokenized. The unique magic system and the overarching theme of women embracing their power added a refreshing depth to the narrative.

At its core, Song of the Hell Witch is a story about women discovering and embracing their own power in a world that often tries to suppress them. . The magic system itself is a reflection of this theme, with spells that are drawn from inner strength and emotion rather than rigid formulas, emphasizing that true power is deeply personal and self-defined.

The book also explores the cost of power and the fine line between empowerment and corruption, as several characters are forced to confront the darker aspects of their abilities and their own ambitions.

The bonds of sisterhood and solidarity among women serve as a counterbalance, showcasing how shared struggles and mutual support can be transformative.

While the world-building and concept were impressive, I found myself wishing for more character development. Some of the key characters felt a bit underexplored, and the story’s pacing lagged in the middle, making it hard to stay fully engaged at times.

However, I’m still looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

Also, Five Stars for the cover art.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have dived into this book face first without any expectations but boy, have I been surprised with each turn.
I’m so Lucky to have been able to read this ARC , I loved the idea of it and loved how the magic worked. Although it felt like the beginning of the book, was confusing and sometimes some terms are placed like I’m supposed to know them but I still enjoyed trying to figure out what they actually mean.
It felt like a battle between men and women who are powerful and fighting for survival with a touch of magic.
I loved it and I definitely will have a hard time waiting for book 2
Thank you netgalley for the ARC ❤️

Taylor Hartley creates a world so vivid and haunting, where magic isn’t just something mystical; it’s something dangerous, a gift and a curse that defines the characters and shapes their lives.

Prudence’s journey felt so real to me. The way she struggles with her magic, the way she tries to stay hidden while living in a world that doesn’t understand her. And then there’s Puck Reed, the Thief Lord of Talonsbury. His bond with his daughter adds so much weight to the story, and it really kept me invested in seeing how everything would come together.

What really hooked me, though, was how empowering the story felt. It’s about reclaiming power, facing fears, and defying the odds, all while navigating a world that doesn’t want you to succeed. The pacing was slower than I anticipated, but it gives space to the characters to grow and the world to feel real. The ending definitely left me wanting more, and I’m excited to see where the story goes next!

SONG OF THE HELL WITCH was so good!! I'm a sucker for found family and this story has a really fresh magic system.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I read the description for Song of the Hell Witch, I was immediately hooked. As someone who’s grown a bit weary of the now-standard enemies-to-lovers blueprint dominating romantasy, the promise of a unique magic system, a rekindled romance, and witches navigating a deeply patriarchal society had me in. And let me tell you—the execution? A grand slam.

Our FMC, Prudence Merriweather, is the perfect example of a rags-to-riches heroine. Once a street thief, she claws her way to the top and becomes the Duchess of Talonsbury. But there's a catch—she’s a Hell Witch. While her husband, the duke, knows her secret (and disturbingly fetishizes it), witches are publicly burned in this newly devout society under the rule of the Lightbringer. Women are fighting for the right to vote, facing abuse for things like miscarriages, and generally treated as lesser in a deeply misogynistic world.

When Prudence’s secret is exposed, she has no choice but to flee—and the only person she can turn to is her childhood love, Puck Reed. Puck has his own burdens: after Prudence left him years ago, he built a life, married, and had a daughter. Now a widower with a mysteriously ill child, he’s the reluctant ruler of the slums, a thief lord trying to keep everything afloat. Their reunion is fraught with tension, heartbreak, and unspoken feelings, and the yearning between them is devastating in the best way. Hartley writes raw, complicated emotions with incredible nuance, and the chemistry is absolutely electric.

One relationship that absolutely blew me away was the one between Puck and his daughter, Bea. It’s rare to see a father-daughter dynamic written with such honesty and depth. Their relationship is fractured—built on love, but weighed down by pain, trauma, and misunderstanding. There’s so much hurt between them, but also that unmistakable thread of love that still lingers underneath it all, even when they can’t express it properly. Bea, though young, is processing a staggering amount of grief and trauma, and her emotional intelligence makes her feel a bit older than her years. I appreciated that nuance and hope we get to see even more of their healing in future installments. Their scenes together were raw and emotional, and felt incredibly real.

I also have to shout out the brilliant trans representation in the character Mari. Trans women—especially trans women of color—are so often excluded from narratives about women’s rights, and Mari’s arc was powerful and deeply moving. Her coming out scene, where she tells a young Puck and Prudence, “While you are stars, I am the sun,” gave me chills. Her desire to hear the witches’ song and be accepted into the sisterhood as a form of gender affirmation was one of the most beautiful elements of the book. Her journey was handled with care and layered emotion—I truly loved her.

And the magic system! Absolutely genius. Women are the only ones who can wield magic, and it’s tied to surviving trauma—a clear and brilliant metaphor for the strength that often comes from pain. It’s rich, original, and deeply tied to the emotional and thematic core of the story.

This was a six-star read for me. Bold, emotional, smart, and unlike anything else in the romantasy space right now. I’m officially a Taylor Hartley fan, and I’m dying for the sequel. If you’re craving something fresh, feminist, and fiercely magical—read this book.

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝—𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦, 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐨. 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭, 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝-𝐰𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬—𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐀 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥, 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞.

𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥!

I got through this pretty quickly—it was easy to read from start to finish. Hartley has crafted a wonderful tale that feels both personal and political. For fans of feminist fantasy, add this to your TBR!

Things I enjoyed:
I found the world refreshing. It felt new and immersive, which is a little ironic given how closely the novel’s oppressive systems mirror our own. The different types of Hell Witch are hella cool, and I hope the next book dives even deeper into their lore.
I loved that Taylor created a magic system where women discover their power through trauma—it’s poignant and powerful.
Mari and Arcadie, need I say any more? I love them.
And then there’s the second-chance love—I'm such a sucker for it. The chemistry between Pru and Puck is deeply felt, filled with history and the not so quiet hope of redemption. Their relationship is messy but tender and I am wholeheartedly rooting for them.

Things I’m not so sure about:
Okay, this is silly—I know it is—but there were a few very minor inconsistencies early on with things like glass types and nightgown materials. Totally irrelevant details but they pulled me out of the story.
I also found myself wanting just a touch more depth and more complexity, though with a sequel on the horizon (after that ending there better be!), I suspect we’ll get to dig deeper in to it all.

And lastly—the worst part? Being lucky enough to get an ARC through NetGalley (thank you!) and now having to wait even longer for the next instalment (shakes angry fist at the sky).

Solid debut that brings something new to the Romantasy genre.

A unique magic system where women gain powers through trauma. The story explores themes such as patriarchy, religion, feminine rage, found family, and more.

The standout element for me, though, was the incredible LGBTQ+ representation. I enjoyed seeing the journey of Mari, a trans woman. In a time when trans people are increasingly targeted, seeing a trans character given space to thrive in fiction feels both powerful and necessary. The book includes other queer characters as well, and overall, the LGBTQ+ rep felt meaningful rather than performative.

The characters are another strength. Both Pru and Puck are flawed but feel real. I liked the romance too and thought it was done well—especially the single dad and second chance romance trope, which is rare to see in fantasy/romantasy. Their relationship felt genuine and didn’t overshadow the plot.

I did have a few issues. The pacing dragged a bit in places, especially in the middle, and the writing—while often strong—had moments where the sentence structure felt awkward. It’s written in third person, but it occasionally jumped into a character’s inner thoughts in a way that was unclear, which pulled me out of the story a few times. I also found Puck and Bea's characters a little inconsistent, mostly in the way they spoke.

In conclusion, I appreciate that the author avoided the usual tropes of Romantasy. It’s queer, magical, and original. With a few tweaks, I believe it has potential to be truly great.