Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Read in less than 24 hours! Preordered a special edition immediately after!

Hekate by Nikita Gill shines as a modern myth—alluring, urgent, and radiant in equal measure. Gill reimagines the goddess of the crossroads with a fierce yet vulnerable voice, reminding us why Hekate has always stood as a liminal figure: keeper of thresholds, magic, and transformation. This is more than a retelling—it is a reclamation, giving voice to silenced goddesses and echoing with contemporary resonance.

One of the most delightful surprises for me was discovering that this novel is told in verse. This poetic form adds a timeless, incantatory quality to the storytelling, as though each line is part of an ancient spell woven anew. The cadence of the poetry/prose allows for moments of piercing intimacy, while still carrying the grandeur of myth. It was a joy to read, and I found myself savoring the rhythm of each page.

Even more powerful was the audiobook, narrated by Gill herself. Hearing her voice inhabit the text felt like the truest way to experience the work. She recites with a kind of reverence and urgency, embodying the goddess she has brought to life. It was mesmerizing, and I can’t imagine a better narrator for this story than its creator.

As someone who treasures Greek mythology, I hold Circe by Madeline Miller as my favorite myth retelling of all time. Circe set the standard for me. Yet, I have to say that Hekate may come in as a very close favorite as well. They are two different facets of feminine power carved from myth, each illuminating the power of an enduring and unbridled spirit.

Perfect for readers who love:
- Mythic retellings with poetic depth and feminist urgency
- Fantasy rooted in emotional truth, not spectacle
- Stories of resilience, magic, and self-discovery
- Lyrical novels that read as much like poetry as like fiction

Hekate is a book to be read, heard, and felt. It is both a triumph of storytelling and a testament to the enduring power of myth in shaping how we see ourselves, our past, and our possibilities.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
I am always a fan of Greek mythology and Hekate has always been a favorite story of mine. I enjoyed this retelling by Nikita Gill. I received the Audiobook ARC. The narrator is Nikita Gill, I loved her accent, however I struggled to keep up or understand the transition from chapter to chapter. Each chapter transitioned to the next in an almost jarring way, they didn’t seem to flow. The book is short, I wish more magic and Hekates powers were more focused on. However, if you’re a fan of poetry and whimsical tones of verse, this is for you.

I absolutely loved listening to this audiobook. Nikita Gil did an amazing job narrating and writing the book. Very poetic, I enjoyed the reframing of the myth to be about mothers and daughters instead of fathers and sons like it normally is. A great intro to myth.

I did not expect this to move me as much as it did. This was a highly anticipated read for me ( I had already preordered it when I was gifted this audio arc!) and it did not disappoint! Breathtaking, beuatiful, and powerful. Hekate was already a favorite of mine but she hasn't had a lot of time to shine in popular adaptations so this was much needed! I adored getting to follow her story from childhood to coming into her power. Watching her grow up in the underworld and form connections really gave new meaning to certain facets of her character. I love the slightly open ending too - I would happily enjoy another installment in her story. This is going to be a treasured book for me to reread and gift others. The author narration really added grace and emotion to the story and made it such a moving expereince. It was magical to hear it in her voice!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I love Greek Mythology and really loved this retelling about Hekate and her life.

She has always been one of the Goddess that intrigue me , the writing was beautiful.

The narrator was really brilliant.

Hekate is a dark, emotional, and empowering retelling of Greek mythology. Nikita Gill’s narration is captivating, bringing both intensity and lyricism to the story. As a Greek myth fan, I was hooked from beginning to end.

Well, do I have some things to say......when don't I 😂! I saw this book online months ago and was immediately drawn to it as I have a special relationship with Hekate (the cover art is next level) and love mythology and the stories of the God's and Goddesses across cultures and time.
Then I see its novel in verse, and it's a full-length story told through poetry. Yeah, this is not my usual spicy fiction or mythology/non fiction read 🤣. 
So if you have never heard of novel in verse but have a phobia of poetry (thank you terrible English teacher decades ago), this isn't what you think. It's a beautiful story read to you in the authors own voice! It has a stunning flow and is almost a spell itself wrapping you in the story of the Goddess of Witchcraft and so much more.
I saw this book come up as an ALC, and I applied IMMEDIATELY and was so excited to have been approved. OmGosh! This style of read was definitely out of my comfort zone, and it blew me away in the best way possible. This is a reminder to sometimes step into the uncomfortable as you may find gold (or, in this case, a 5 star read)!!!
The story is a stunning retelling of the Goddess Hekate from childhood before she knew who she was/would become. It includes her struggles with her identity, being orphaned, and growing up in the underworld. There are complex relationships and plenty of God's and Goddesses joining us along the way.
I've read a lot about Hekate, and this was an original take on her story, immersing me in a brilliant retelling of self-discovery and feminine power.
I feel having the author Nikita Gill actually narrating the audio book brought a whole new level of depth. Who knows more about the feelings they are trying to convey to the reader with each word better than the author.

Thank you, Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC. I've already preordered the Goldsboro Special Edition as a shelf trophy!!!!

The poetic prose was lovely, just as I expected anything written by Nikita Gill to be. She's truly talented. I felt there was an element of atmosphere and flow missing from the story, though. And I preferred reading it myself over the audio. The way the character's voices were portrayed bothered me at times and made me think of someone reading a child a story rather than an audio voice actor.

This was perfect for a cleaning session audiobook binge. While it's categorized as YA, I think it's very suitable for adult audiences and was a beautiful, empowering reimagining of the myth. I will definitely recommend to my friends who love classical history especially those who like to read along with their kids. The narrator had a lovely accent that heightened the characters.

A Goddess Reborn in Starlight ✨
Born from cosmic embers and orphaned by a war of gods, Hekate's journey is a song of sorrow and fierce magic. She is a godling who has never known safety, cast into the shadowy depths of the Underworld where she is cradled by the Queen of the Dead and the Lord of Darkness. In this realm of whispers and forgotten souls, she finds her footing among the beautiful, terrible things that dwell there, a delicate and heartbreaking ballet of a lost girl searching for a home in a world that never truly wanted her. The contrast between her sheltered life in the Underworld and the burning, chaotic world above adds a profound layer to her growth, painting a picture of a soul desperately seeking belonging.

In a realm of whispers and forgotten souls, Hekate rises, a moonflower blooming in the deepest night. The same forces that once sought to extinguish her parents now tremble before her newfound power. She is a queen of shadows, a whisperer of forbidden spells, and a light in the darkest corners. This isn't merely a tale of mythical battles; it's a love letter to the defiant spirit, a breathtaking tapestry woven with intricate myth and star-dusted prose. The narrative beautifully explores how even the most powerful of beings can be haunted by their past, and how one's true purpose can be found in the most unexpected places.

Every page is a promise, a spell cast with ink and heart. This isn't just a story; it's a feeling, a haunting, beautiful melody that lingers long after the final chapter. When immortal war breaks out once more, threatening to unravel the very fabric of existence, it is Hekate—the goddess of witchcraft and necromancy—who must stand alone to bring the deadly conflict to an end. This epic conclusion is as captivating as the journey itself, a divine, enchanting read that will steal your heart and summon your soul to the underworld, just for a little while. 🌙🔮🖤

I love mythology and this one was really good, it was well written and interesting. However, to be such a short book it felt like it spent too much time introducing the characters rather than to focus on the actual plot.

The audiobook was fantastic and it made me enjoy this novel more. I love myths and I would have loved for this one to be a bit longer, Hekate's journey is very interesting and the ending was really gripping. I hope we get more books on this universe.

This is a coming of age tragic story, that keeps you engaged the whole time, with a great ending reveal.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC of this book, all opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful retelling of the life of Hecate. I have read a lot of myths retelling of many gods but this is the first I have read of Hekate. I love how the author gave her a voice,l. It made me think about Hekate as the person and not just as the mother of witchcraft. The author did an excellent job of giving background information of what molded Hekate, from her mother, her aunt Styx, to Hades, Zeus, Hermes, and most importantly Thanatos! Love the play with Thanatos as the love interest.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a mythology lover, Hekate the Witch was a captivating and powerful read. Nikita Gill gives voice to one of mythology’s most overlooked goddesses—the one who can raise the dead and command legions—with lyrical, poetic prose that’s both intimate and fierce.

Hekate’s story is steeped in love, loss, betrayal, war, and redemption. The backdrop of conflict between the Olympians and the older gods adds a compelling layer to her journey, highlighting the imbalance of power where gods always seem to have the upper hand.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration added a haunting, immersive tone that truly brought the words to life. It felt like listening to an ancient incantation—deeply atmospheric and emotionally charged.

A great read for fans of mythological retellings and feminist reimaginings of ancient stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

You can’t keep me from a Greek mythology retelling, especially one written by a woman who can bring life and feeling into female characters who were otherwise forgotten in the male telling. Written poetically? Sold. Loved this.

Hekate is a beautifully written Greek Myth retelling. I listened to the audio version and it was so lovely. I felt captivated and engaged the whole time. The story is coming of age, tragic and magical. It’s short, poetic and I wanted even more, which is always a good sign. I loved being in the underworld with Hekate and her finding her way within the dysfunctional family. The ending definitely leaves this open for more of Hekate’s story to come. This audio is definitely unique in its reading, flowing like poetry so if you like that then definitely pick that format. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I'm a lover of retelling of Greek myths and folklore so I was super excited to read Hekate and it didn't let me down.

The narration was great, especially because it was narrated by the author herself, I generally love audiobooks where that happens!

I was surprised at first to see that the book is written (mostly) in verse but I honestly really loved that aspect. I feel like the writing style of the book perfectly matched the tone of the story being told. I haven't read any of Nikita Gill's other works before, but after reading Hekate I would absolutely read more of her poetry. The ethereal nature of it makes the atmosphere of the book more mystical and mysterious.

Hekate herself was a great character and her story felt heartbreaking and triumphant at the same time. A true coming to age story, seeing Hekate lose her mother at the hands of the vengeful gods and learning how to become a goddess in the Underworld was so fun to read and had me hooked the entire time. There were incredible themes of found family and authenticity.

I loved that the story stayed true to so many Greek myths and included so many recognizable events from the perspective of Hekate. The plot did feel a bit rushed towards the end and I felt as though more could have been added, but overall this was an amazing read. I'd absolutely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Greek mythology retellings!

The story of Hekate and how she came to claim her divinity,as the goddess of Necromancy and Witchcraft. Narrated by the author herself, this is a stunning story and doesn’t get any better than hearing it directly from the author’s mouth.

Quite a quick read, and beautifully told.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC

I think I would’ve enjoyed this more if I didn’t do the audio! Unfortunately I only had an audio copy from the publisher! And it just didn’t work for this format. It just felt very disjointed and broken up so I could never get fully immersed in the story. The poetry was beautiful and the story was good but it just missed something for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

This is a beautiful book written with lovely verse. Unfortunately I listened to it on audiobook exclusively and I feel like the lyrical nature was hard for me to follow. I know that the narrator is just reading in verse, but I struggled with the drastic changes in speed of the narration.
I would love to try this again with a written form at publication because it is a very interesting Hekate retelling.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy.

Wow, this was stunning!

I've never read Nikita Gill's work before, but she has a way with words. The whole experience of reading this alongside listening to the audiobook was very soothing.

Nikita's narration was beautiful - probably the best narration I've heard. It works extremely well as spoken poetry, telling this story of gods, goddesses and wars in verse.

The only downside was that I found it hard to keep up with the plot and characters. I will probably need to reread it, but the experience is so lovely that this will be no hardship. I think the format of poetry lends itself to the ethereal and the sense of being in a liminal space.

Overall, for what this was trying to do, I think it did it perfectly.

I'm very grateful to Netgalley and Hachette audio for the ALC