Overall it is an interesting story. I just wish they would have told more of her past before the island. I did enjoy it for a short story.

THE CASTAWAY AND THE WITCH by Ioanna Papadopoulou

“It was years later, when she wrote the experience down, that she clarified them. Such is the nature of memory, always creeping onto the edge of fiction."

When nine-year-old Nefele is shipwrecked on the Floating Forest, a prison-island of legend, she survives with the help of its strange magic and the books left in a hidden tree house. Growing up alone, she begins to lose herself to the forest’s mysteries, until another castaway arrives. Now Nefele must decide whether to embrace the witch of her imagination or the person she truly is.


If I had to describe this novella in a single word, it would be dreamlike. The story feels like a dark fairytale brushing against reality. But because it maintains that fairytale quality, readers shouldn’t expect to know every detail about the world or its characters. Like any myth, it is meant to be malleable, leaving silences and gaps that invite you to imagine for yourself and adapt through centuries and landscapes.

Choosing to make this a novella was, I think, a brilliant decision. There is just enough space to get to know the characters and setting, but the brevity keeps its mythic pulse intact. The writing itself is beautiful: utterly lyrical, yet always clear. I loved how Papadopoulou balances evocative prose with directness, and how she occasionally slips in essay-like reflections on broader themes. These never jarred me; instead, they felt like windows into the author’s own thinking, woven naturally into the narrative.

At the heart of the book is Nefele, one of the most compelling morally grey heroines I’ve read in a while. As a narrator she is deeply unreliable, and I found myself constantly questioning her morality. Yet she isn’t cruel, only desperate, and it is impossible not to feel sympathy for her. She lingers in that space between flawed and lovable that makes a character feel alive.

I went in blind—without reading the synopsis, just on a friend’s recommendation—so the arrival of a love interest surprised me. It shifted the atmosphere of the book quite noticeably between the first and second halves. Far from being a flaw, I thought this change flowed through one of the veins that pumps this story’s heart: the tension between myth and reality. It gave the book a real coming-of-age rhythm, as Nefele grows into herself.

“Books are fiction. They give you the most ideal version, whether that is pain or love, or even family. Art aims to smooth the edges in order to give you a compelling story. Real life is like a heap of discarded clothes, and you search amid them matching pieces for a narrative that will hold your sanity.”

I definitely see how the author looked back on this story and saw it as a reimagining of Circe and Odysseus' story. Sometimes stories are like dances, we fall into the same steps that our muscles have memorised. This story is undoubtedly reminiscent of what Circe's experiences must have been living in Aeaea. There is something to be said about these archetypes—oftentimes I find these core motifs and storylines unite us through centuries and distances. We are (in a positive way) doomed to repeat the same stories, because they stem from our very human experiences.

In the end, The Castaway and the Witch lingers like a half-remembered dream, delicate and unsettling, a story that slips between myth and reality in a way that feels inevitable.

thank you netgalley for the arc !!

i find books about hidden secret magical domains so fascinating and this one definitely delivered in that part. it had such a desolate vibe what with the main character growing up alone in a hidden island with basically no real human beings by her side and teaching herself everything through books etc it was so interesting to read about. i think that the deserted island itself can be a metaphor for a lot of the main characters experiences with loneliness after being castaway.
one thing i wished there had been more of would be the magic but it does well even without since its pretty well explained why she doesnt use it and such, but as a fantasy lover i would've loveed to see more of that. i must say though that i didnt particularly like the romance in this and it couldve really done with or without it honestly.

all in all it was a 3 and a half star read !!

I loved the vibes, the story, the setting, the protagonist, everything, and I LOVE a dark fairy tale........... but much of this little book had romance elements with a dude cheating on his wife with the protagonist. She knows he's married, and while I won't get into spoilers territory here, I will say that the confrontation they have about this and how he talks about his wife is so rancid, and I really couldn't stomach him. I certainly wasn't rooting for him, nor for any part of their entanglement from the very beginning. Frankly, I could've read a whole story without this jackass in it, but c'est la vie.

This book hooked me right from the beginning and kept my attention the whole way through. I really enjoyed how it managed to feel both mystical and spooky while still weaving in moments of warmth and heart. Even though it is only a prequel novella and I have not read the main series yet, I never felt lost. Instead, it gave me just enough context and intrigue to make me excited to continue on with the main books. The balance between mystery and clarity worked really well, and I never felt like the story was withholding information just for the sake of it.

The storyline with Simon at the end did feel like it dragged in parts. There were a few sections that I thought could have moved along faster. However, once I reached the final few pages, it was clear why those moments were included, and it made more sense in the bigger picture. It did not ruin the pacing of the book for me, but it did slow things down for a little while.

What really stood out were the descriptions. Auntie, in particular, was written in such a vivid and unsettling way. The details were gruesome and gut-wrenching, but they worked perfectly in contrast to the world of lighter magic that the rest of the story seemed to lean on. That balance made the setting much more memorable and layered. The elk was another highlight for me. It was such an unusual but fascinating detail, and it added a richness to the worldbuilding!

Overall, I would give this book 4 stars. It was atmospheric, engaging, and left me curious to see how these characters and ideas develop in the main series. It struck a nice balance between being satisfying on its own and still leaving me wanting more, which is exactly what a prequel should do

Thank you to Ioanna Papadopoulou and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is my first read from Ioanna Papadopoulou, and the prose was truly enchanting. I love the pauses and the interjections in the text, at the beginning I found them strange but as the book went I really came to appreciate the depth they added to the scenes and the context they gave. They're a unique way to interject on the scene, and I found it really added to the dreaminess that this novel has! This was a fantastic coming-of-age gothic novel, the setting was immersive and the story unfolded in good pace. Without spoiling, watching Nefele go through her choices and her own contentions between her path of how she wished to be seen and who she actually is while discovering the history of the island was a delight. I also loved the role of the elk, elder and caretaker, and her interactions with them through her story.

Overall, i'd recommend this to anyone wanting a mythical-gothic read!

This story begins in a tragic way. A young girl, alone on an island full of magic and mystery.

To some, this might sound exciting and the start of an amazing adventure. However, it is a journey of conflict, violence, grief and guilt.

This book is wonderfully written. I could easily picture the island and the other settings vividly. The narration felt poetic and spell like itself.

I feel there could of been more elements to the story, especially the magic. I would of like to have seen, much more grand scale magic used. This did not take away from the enjoyment I got from reading this though.
I would of also liked the POV of Simon, while he was alone. What did he do? What was his thought process?

Overall, this is a short read, yet a worthy one. If you enjoy dark, gothic fairytale vibes and morally grey conflicting actions. This is for you.

Thank you to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for thr eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted on goodreads and storygraph 19 Aug 2025

Will send my review to amazon when published. Thank you

I really enjoyed this as a horror novel, it had that tension that I was looking for and was hooked from the start. I was invested in what was what happening and enjoyed the overall concept. I loved getting to know the characters and how everything worked together with them. Ioanna Papadopoulou wrote this perfectly and was glad I read this, it uses the mythology elements in this universe and was glad it worked overall in the plot.

This was a wonderful book. The prose was beautiful and captivating. I enjoyed how much of the story was kept in the shadows. It kept me thinking the entire time about who was writing the parts in italics and what the Island is about. Even the ending was wonderfully ambigous. It is partly up to the readers expectation

I loved this so, so, SO much! A beautiful coming-of-age story about a little girl following in the footsteps of the previous witches trapped on the island. Honestly, there wasn't much plot; just her growing up, but it was still plenty entertaining and fascinating to watch her grow.
Such a unique piece crafted of myths. I'm obsessed!

This was the first book I’ve read by Ioanna Papadopoulou, and I am absolutely in love with her writing.

It started as one of those “I’ll just read a few pages before work” kind of books, but very quickly I found myself wanting to read more—and had to resist until my shift was over. The opening scene, with Nefele staying in the boat, holding on to someone familiar and loved.

The island itself feels alive—slowly losing and forgetting pieces of yourself. Time passes, binding Nefele into its stories of the island. We see this happen to Nefele as she struggles to find her place, to decide where she belongs and what “home” means for her now. The words left behind by others before her painted a vivid picture of their lives on the island.

I adored Auntie, I loved the Elks and Simon, but most of all, I cherished Nefele herself. The Castaway and the Witch was a truly beautiful read.

This is a 4.5 overall for me but I rounded up as I really loved discovering the author’s style and work :).

Writing style – 🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌
Worldbuilding – 🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌
Characters – 🦌🦌🦌🦌
Pacing / Engagement – 🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌
Plot – 🦌🦌🦌🦌
Romance / Relationships – 🦌🦌🦌🦌
Themes / Emotions – 🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌

The Castaway and the Witch is a beautifully layered and emotional novella that blends myth, memory, and magic in a way that’s haunting and deeply human.

Nefele is a personable and loveable main character; she’s raw, uncertain, and powerful. Her journey of self-discovery is deeply moving, especially as she grapples with the labels thrust upon her; the idea of being called a "witch" before she’s even had the chance to decide who she really is (especially when she’s so young when she first arrives). That tension between identity and perception is handled with nuance, and gave the whole story a quiet emotional weight that I really loved.

The world-building is atmospheric and subtly mystical. The presence of the mysterious elk,
adds a beautiful (I didn’t find them demonic!), symbolic thread throughout confirming something larger, older, and unknowable is a at play. I also found it interesting how the story treated death, it’s present and significant, but never overly dark or morbid. There’s a sense of acceptance and reflection around it that felt very human.

Simon wasn’t a favorite character of mine, but I wonder if that discomfort stemmed from my concern for Nefele, which honestly just shows how carefully crafted the perspective is.

I absolutely loved the reflective storytelling style. The diary entries and interwoven narrative layers gave the book a folktale-meets-memory feel, and added so much depth. It really plays with the idea that stories shape us, and that a fairytale is what we make of it. That’s one of the book’s strongest themes: that truth and fiction are not always separate things, and that becoming yourself often means figuring out what version of the story you want to believe (or rewrite).

Overall, this is a quiet, powerful and refreshing novella . Perfect for readers who love character-driven fantasy, and stories about finding your voice in a world that wants to define it for you.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc :).

The Castaway and the Witch pulls you in from the very first pages with an air of mystery and never really lets go. The setting is hauntingly beautiful—a magical island inspired by the mythical prison island Aeaea—filled with strange creatures, enchantments, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

The characters are layered, often morally grey, which kept me questioning motives and wondering who could be trusted right up until the end. I loved that the story balanced a sense of danger with an almost dreamlike quality, making the island itself feel like a character.

If you enjoy mythology-inspired tales with plenty of mystery, magic, and unpredictable twists, this book is definitely worth picking up.

4.5⭐
So… I’m kind of speechless with this one. I got "The Castaway and the Witch" on NetGalley as an Arc and I asked for it mainly for three reasons:

1 Greek author (instant yes from me 🇬🇷)
2 that gorgeous cover
3 and the Circe-inspired premise (because how could I resist?)

I opened it last night “just to try a few pages” because I wanted something small to read and next thing I knew, the book was over and time had disappeared.

It’s short, eerie, and absolutely mesmerizing.

This is a retelling that feels both familiar and completely new. Instead of just rehashing Circe and rhe whole myth, it follows Nefele, a nine-year-old castaway who washes up on a mythical island with nothing but her father’s corpse and pure survival instinct. What unfolds is a dark, fairytale-like coming-of-age story that blurs reality, myth, and identity. It’s unsettling in places, dreamlike in others, and always dripping with atmosphere.

I adored how the prose took its time,pausing on both the big and small moments, letting me breathe and reflect before moving forward. Auntie’s character? 👀 Completely unsettling but I couldn’t look away. And Nefele herself, watching her lose pieces of herself to the Floating Forest while still clinging to who she wants to be...was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.

Simon, too, is such a weird yet intriguing character. He adds this extra layer of tension and curiosity that kept me hooked.

And the Elks ...well yeah I love them!

If I had one wish, it would be to see more of Nefele’s magical learning process. We get hints of her becoming the witch of the fairytale, but I craved more actual magic, more glimpses into her power unfolding.

Some moments could have been fleshed out, but honestly, as a novella it works perfectly and still it left me wanting a full-length book. Please, author, let us have a full book! 🙏

Still, this was such a unique, haunting retelling that truly worked for me. It felt like stepping into a grim fairytale with no clear beginning or end, just vibes, symbolism, and emotional punch.

Because only the fairytale matters at the end.

If you love Circe, if you’re drawn to myth retellings that lean dark and dreamy, or if you just want to get lost on a mythical island for a night,read this.

I’m in awe. And yes, I’ll definitely be picking up the author’s other work (Winter Harvest, a Demeter retelling 👀).

Wow this novella packs a punch. It is an intense, dark fairytale loosely inspired by the Greek myth of Circe, told from the villan's perspective. The story follows a coming of age journey defined by isolation. I really enjoyed that throughout the tale, there are omniscient, insightful passages, that offer glimpses into what the character will feel in time or question the wisdom of her choices. This technique added another level of intrigue. The novella format works well with the intensity of the story and overall left a haunting impression on me.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Ghost Orchid Press for the e-ARC.

This book was too short. It was beautifully written and read smoothly. The complex relationship between the witch and the castaway made the story emotional. The themes of loneliness and healing just add to the story.

3,5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Ghost Orchid Press and Ioanna Papadopoulou for the ARC.

The story starts strong with a young girl hiding in her dead father's embrace under the scorching sun, both of them stranded on an island.
When she finally accepts that her father is gone, she leaves to explore the island and finds a strange, almost mythical elk and a treehouse filled with books and she soon realizes that the island is a prison and it always wants a prisoner.
As the years pass, she becomes a witch, like many women before her. And as she's about to become the witch, another castaway reminds her of the humanity in her.

I really liked the idea of the book: a magic island? a castaway turned witch? Yes please! And it absolutely delivers that. The reader grows with Nefele as she struggles with her magic, but most of all, her meaning in this small little world. Nefele was likeable and realistic and you'll want to give her a hug really badly.

Simon, the castaway, however... I didn't vibe with. I found him entitled, rude at times, and very needy and demanding, and he completely ruined the mood for me. Imagine being on an island, in total peace, surrounded with gentle animals, you always have food and water and books, and a man shows up and starts complaining about everything, from his previous life, his previous wife, to the secrets Nefele keep. No. I don't want that. I'm sorry. At least he gets a lot better in the last pages.
I fell like the romance was rushed and one-sided. Unfortunately, the romance part is 1/4 of the book, if not 1/3.

Other than that, the good had a good pacing and the writing made it easy to imagine how wonderful the island and the treehouse were. The journal entries were a nice touch! I liked that things must not always be as they are written and that we sometimes overthink things a lot, and that it's ok to decide of our own fate. It's a really good and honorable twist of an existing myth!

I had a great time with this book; it had me invested from the very beginning. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say the atmosphere and vibes of this book were amazing. It was mysterious and alluring, and I felt slightly unsettled (in a good way!) while reading.

There was so much depth to the main character, Nefele. We get a window into her darkest and most complex thoughts and feelings. I thought I wouldn't like the romance in this book, but I actually did. My only issue is how short this story is. I just have so many questions (which I won't list here because of spoilers), but it also seems like, to some extent, that's the point?

Overall, I really liked this book and definitely recommend it (just check trigger warnings). Thank you to NetGalley and Ghost Orchid Press for the ARC!

TLDR
- eerie, gothic fantasy/ horror
- mysterious moving island
- magic
- magical treehouse and library
- pirates
- demonic elk
- complex and loveable main character

*thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy*

This was such a unique and beautiful read.
The world building set the mood from the beginning and I was immediately transported to this mysterious floating island complete with a treehouse.

There were moments it felt like an odd dream, like a grim fairytale with no real beginning and no real end yet swept away with the overall vibe of the story.
Auntie’s character was unsettling but I was so intrigued by them!

Great little atmospheric novella, I would love this to be adapted into a full length standalone novel.

Ioanna Papadopoulou manages to balance a sense of cruelty and coziness in this intriguing tale of magic and isolation.

I would recommend it to fans of The Near Witch by VE Schwab.

The author has built an interesting world and I loved learning the lore of the island along side, the main character, Nefele. The magic system is inventive and not over powered. This novella wasn’t a chosen one destined for great things story but a detailed portrait of a flawed individual surviving the circumstances she finds herself in.