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mrsandersonreads 's review for:
Witchlore
by Emma Hinds
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
*ARC – Release Date 09/10/2025*
Witchlore is the story of an outcast – Orlando, a non-binary shapeshifter – and their journey through their grief at the death of their girlfriend, with the help of an attractive new witch, Bastian.
Lando is the only shapeshifter at Demdike College of Witchcraft, and they are unable to control their shifts. Add to this the fact that they are blamed for the death of Elizabeth – the only person to show them love, and Lando is ostracized and mocked at every turn. Enter Bastian – a new boy who claims he can help Lando raise Elizabeth from the dead…
This book had me in a chokehold very early on. Lando is so well written, I felt everything they did, and I just wanted to help make them feel better. Bastian is charming and handsome but hides deep secrets that I could sense very early on, and I was anxious to know what they were!
Witchlore is about shifters and witches on the surface only, it is so much more than that. It is an exploration of gender expression and all its variety. It is an in-depth look at grief and all the forms and stages it has. It is about self-love and self-acceptance.
I loved how well written Lando was, and I felt like I could really feel their struggles. It also opened my eyes further to the struggles that non-binary people must deal with on a day-to-day basis. The fact that Basian is so accepting is wonderful and made me wish everyone was like that!
I was nervous throughout the whole book wondering what the outcome of the spell would be, and I was not disappointed with the ending.
I adored this book. I found it to be heartbreaking and heartwarming by turns, and so many of the themes resonated with me. The descriptions about grief especially resonated, as did the feeling of being an outsider. I would recommend!