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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Witchlore.
Review Summary:
I adored this heartfelt fantasy story of grief, learning self-acceptance, and recovering from trauma. It's very queer, very Northern English, very magical, and it made me cry countless times.
I think you'll like this book if you enjoy: books with a focus on character growth and mental health, queer happy endings, magical schools, fantasy creatures (including selkies!), romance that's important to the plot but not the main focus, non-binary and pansexual rep. It's a YA book but I would class it as upper YA.
But, bear in mind Emma Hinds' books can really take you to a dark place. Their characters suffer, and there's an authenticity to how Hinds writes their pain. And Witchlore night be Hinds' first YA novel, but it is no exception to this rule. I strongly recommend checking the content warnings (I've listed some at the end of this review, but they may not be exhaustive).
In More Detail:
I can't stress enough how much I loved this book and how it crafts a poignant story in a fantasy setting.
Witchlore is an urban fantasy story set mostly in Manchester. I really enjoyed how the world-building blends British mythology with northern English culture (and some Cornish elements — including multiple uses of the Cornish language!). We get so many magical creatures, spooky night-time rituals, grimoires, and different methods of spellcasting.
The book is delightfully queer. There is a lot of raw pain and suffering, but the way Lando grows to want to live is really impactful. There's also an incredibly sweet relationship that develops throughout the course if the book.
I also love how developed and distinctive the characters are. Lando is far more than their grief, and as they start to recover, we see more of their personality. Even background characters are well-written. Hinds is great at writing realistic social interactions, especially between strangers.
Content Warnings:
There are off-page suicide attempts, self-harm and self-destructive behaviour, plus transphobia (and more specifically, non-binaryphobia), references to child abuse and neglectful/cruel parenting that may be particularly triggering for queer and neurodivergent people, death, sexual harassment and bullying.
Review Summary:
I adored this heartfelt fantasy story of grief, learning self-acceptance, and recovering from trauma. It's very queer, very Northern English, very magical, and it made me cry countless times.
I think you'll like this book if you enjoy: books with a focus on character growth and mental health, queer happy endings, magical schools, fantasy creatures (including selkies!), romance that's important to the plot but not the main focus, non-binary and pansexual rep. It's a YA book but I would class it as upper YA.
But, bear in mind Emma Hinds' books can really take you to a dark place. Their characters suffer, and there's an authenticity to how Hinds writes their pain. And Witchlore night be Hinds' first YA novel, but it is no exception to this rule. I strongly recommend checking the content warnings (I've listed some at the end of this review, but they may not be exhaustive).
In More Detail:
I can't stress enough how much I loved this book and how it crafts a poignant story in a fantasy setting.
Witchlore is an urban fantasy story set mostly in Manchester. I really enjoyed how the world-building blends British mythology with northern English culture (and some Cornish elements — including multiple uses of the Cornish language!). We get so many magical creatures, spooky night-time rituals, grimoires, and different methods of spellcasting.
The book is delightfully queer. There is a lot of raw pain and suffering, but the way Lando grows to want to live is really impactful. There's also an incredibly sweet relationship that develops throughout the course if the book.
I also love how developed and distinctive the characters are. Lando is far more than their grief, and as they start to recover, we see more of their personality. Even background characters are well-written. Hinds is great at writing realistic social interactions, especially between strangers.
Content Warnings:
There are off-page suicide attempts, self-harm and self-destructive behaviour, plus transphobia (and more specifically, non-binaryphobia), references to child abuse and neglectful/cruel parenting that may be particularly triggering for queer and neurodivergent people, death, sexual harassment and bullying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual harassment