beezus218 's review for:

Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell

3.5

emotional hopeful mysterious 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: No

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 Book 29 of 2025 - ☑️!  Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press & Blair Fell for an ARC of Disco Witches of Fire Island: A Novel by Blair Fell, in exchange for my honest review. 

 

The cover and title of Blair Fell’s Disco Witches of Fire Island instantly pulled me in, though I didn’t have time to really settle in with the book until recently. 

 

Disco Witches of Fire Island takes place in 1989, after so many had already tragically passed from AIDS. Joe Agabian is still processing the loss of his boyfriend, and makes his way to Fire Island - a gay haven - to spend his summer. Shortly after he arrives, the inhabitants of 44 1/4 Picketty Ruff take Joe under their wing. Joe begins to suspect that something is “off” with his new roommates, and it’s revealed that they’re Disco Witches whose purpose is to protect Fire Island, in the midst of horrible tragedy. Due to the AIDS epidemic and losing members of the coven to the horrible disease, the witches powers have been compromised. Amidst all of this, Joe starts to fall for Fergal - a bisexual ferryman who’s also on the island. 

 

I thought Fell did a nice job of balancing the absolute tragedy of AIDS, with the fun, magic, love and hope that appears throughout the book. There was a variety in the representation across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, and this might also be the first time I’ve read a book with an Armenian MC. There are occasional steamy scenes here, though what really stood out to me was Fell’s writing of difficult conversations between the characters. 

 

3.5/5 ⭐️ overall, and 2/5 🌶️’s. 🪩🧙🏝️ #DiscoWitchesofFireIsland #NetGalley