We Call Them Witches - India-Rose Bower // Book Review

   

We Call Them Witches
India-Rose Bower || Publication Date - 07.04.2026

When they came, almost everyone died. Now they torment those that survived...

Horror | LGBTQIA+

Two years ago, eldritch abominations came from what seemed like nowhere and plunged the modern world into an apocalypse. Now they're looming, salivating and hunting for any surviving people that managed to escape their grasp. Sara and her family can hear their screams in the night, not knowing whether her Ma's pagan inspired wards really are working to keep these 'Witches' at bay. And most importantly, keeping their family safe.

During a routine ward check they find a young girl, about the same age as Sara, soaked and unconscious on the outskirts of their protected borders. Her name is Parsley, she doesn't remember how she got there, and no one in her family trusts her but Sara. That is until one of Sara's younger siblings is taken by one of the 'Witches'. She and Parsley immediately grab their things and attempt to battle the wilds in hopes of retrieving him alive.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

What can I say about a novel that opens with some horror bleeding through the walls and attacking the family innocently cooking their lunch. Immediately captivated my attention and sucked me into the story. It was graphic, gross and descriptive to the point where I kept thinking those things would morph above my own fridge. India-Rose's descriptive prose kept strong through the entire book and it brings me to my next point.

The thing that really hooked me about this book was the atmosphere and writing of the areas the characters found themselves in. I could feel the damp and cold weather of the moors, and when mist was brought in to make everything even creepier I could feel the chill settling in. Whenever a new location is entered, India-Rose never wastes any time reminding the reader how desolate and abandoned the world is. It's a very similar feeling to 'Wild Dark Shore' or 'The Wolf Tree'.

It was a depressing and almost hopeless reading experience. Glimmers of positivity were written within the story, however it was always short lived. Always reminding the characters and the readers that this world was never going to be the same again.

We go a couple of rounds, bouncing ideas back and forth that include sentient trees, cephalopods, and alternate dimensions. By the time we're considering the likelihood of and ancient Orcadian tomb being opened to release vengeful spirits, we're very nearly smiling properly again.

In regards to the characters, I enjoyed their ways of coping with the post apocalyptic setting they were now navigating. One of my favourite things they did together was proposing theories to how the 'Witches' came into being. It must be hard to rationalise something like this happening and the characters inventing stories and theories was really fun to read and explore.

Overall Thoughts

From the very first chapters I found the novel quite interesting. The ending however threw me for a loop! I don't consider myself a particularly smart cookie when it comes to pre-emptively solving the endings of mysteries and thrillers. I tend to shut my brain off and let the story take me where it wants me to go. So when the ending hit, I had no clue that was where this was going. In hindsight I do believe it is quite predictable, and if you're someone who doesn't like predictable endings then this may not be a book for you. However, I had a really good time throughout and I feel it's worth a read regardless of predictability.

** Affiliate Links **

Amazon - https://amzn.to/4kYmijD

March 2026 Book Releases I'm Excited For!

 

No one has asked for my opinion, however here it is anyway! This is a list of books releasing in March 2026 that I am really looking forward to 😊

I'll give a little into why I am looking forward to each and likely have the blurb available and a link to check out the book yourself if you are interested too.

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Innamorata - Ava Reid

I don't know what it is about stories revolving around dark and gloomy magic, but this seems to ooze out the pages. The below is taken from the official blurb and I'm itching to add this to my TBR.

Though she has not spoken a word in seven years, Agnes is the true carrier of the House’s legacy. And she has her orders. She must recapture the secrets of death magic and avenge her family’s fallen honor.

Check it out for yourself below! * These are Affiliate Links *

Amazon - https://amzn.to/46qgs4N

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Everyone in This Bank is a Thief - Benjamin Stevenson

I have been following this series since it began with 'Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone' and this instalment is nothing if not true to the format which has been established over the 3 novels and one novella. A book tour event was held for this novel and I had the pleasure of meeting Benjamin and hearing him discuss this book along with the others within the series. I was able to receive a copy for my collection and have reviewed this book on my blog 😊

My Review for this title is Here!

Check it out for yourself below! * These are Affiliate Links *

Amazon - https://amzn.to/4cbBjMN

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Daughter of Crows - Mark Lawrence

Again with the dark and gloomy nature of the premise and atmosphere. Plus the cover is absolutely stunning!

The Academy’s halls run with blood. The few who survive its decade-long nightmare have been forged on the sands of the Wound Garden. They have learned ancient secrets amid the necrotic fumes of the Bone Garden. They leave its gates as avatars of vengeance, bound to uphold the oldest of laws.

Check it out for yourself below! * These are Affiliate Links *

Amazon - https://amzn.to/4sdyQGB

Nightshade & Oak - Molly O'Neill // Book Review

  

Nightshade & Oak
Molly O'Neill || Publication Date - 03.02.2026

A delightful tale of unexpected meetings, trust, friendship & what it means to be human

Fantasy | Adventure | Mythology

Mellt is the Goddess of Death. Her task for thousands of years has been to assist the dead and dying towards the afterlife. After a battle between Britons and Romans has left a field full of carnage, she sweeps through the despair with her hounds, pulling souls from their tortured and mortal lives and ushering them away. As she leaves the battlefield, one final scene captures her attention. A woman lay dying with her soul tethered to her body, unable to escape. When Mellt touches the woman's face to coax her soul, the next thing Mellt knows is that she's mortal and comes into contact with Bellis, a princess.

Bellis is the reason why Mellt is no longer a Goddess, and is now trapped within a mortal body. Much to her dismay, she is forced to travel weeks westward to enter the afterlife and by chance regain her Immortality. Bellis on the other hand, wishes to go to the same place, in order to save her sisters life.

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I would like to thank Hachette UK for providing me a copy of this book for review purposes.

I did feel the beginning of this novel was a bit clunky. Being written in first person is not much of an issue, however the profuse use of 'I' at the beginning of each sentence got irritating very quickly. As the story progressed, this became less of an issue and I was able to really sink into Molly's writing style, which I did end up really liking. By about 20% of the way through, it was exactly the kind of Adventure Fantasy which I was hoping for.

Both Mallt and Bellis as characters were unique and fun to get to know. We have snippets sprinkled through the novel of Bellis as she grows up, watching her sister being born and experiences life as a Princess and the next leader of her people. The only excerpt we get regarding Mallt and her duties as a Goddess are within the first couple of chapters. However I feel this provided the perfect amount of context to the book and gave enough of the world building to allude that we are within a historic tale woven with Mythology.

As a decent hook for this book is a journey to the gates of the afterlife, this novel could have blown the travelling portion out significantly longer than it did. I believed that a decent chunk of the 270 pages were going to be the characters travelling. Molly needs an award or something, because this is not even what the book is narratively going to focus on. The afterlife is corrupted, and in danger of being destroyed. This is what the novel is truly about and what a pleasant surprise that was.

What lowered the rating for me in terms of enjoyment was the final stages towards the ending of the book, which felt rushed. A lot was packed into the last 30 or so pages and it was jumping around trying to close off plot lines while also adding in a smaller side possibility at the same time. It didn't harm the narrative overall, but did make the ending appear lightning fast, and I do feel it made the final moments a little less impactful.

Overall Thoughts

What I loved the most about this novel is that it is a STAND ALONE Fantasy! So many lately have been a part of a series and I've been hanging out for a novel I can sit and devour without having to worry about a sequel. Another thing I loved about it was both Mellt and Bellis. Nothing overstayed its welcome and the story moved swiftly and steadily towards the conclusion.

If you're looking for a novel that's easy to read, fun and a Fantasy under 300 pages, please look no further than 'Nightshade & Oak'. It certainly wasn't a perfect read, but it was exactly what I've felt the Fantasy market has been lacking for a very long time and it was a refreshing welcome.