Ivy, our protagonist, is a well-written and endearingly relatable character. Seventeen years old and fresh out of the foster system, she exudes a mix of vulnerability and strength that is captivating. Ivy’s resilience shines through, particularly in her interactions with a lecherous and misogynistic boss, which she handles with wit and courage. Her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is beautifully portrayed, making her a character I deeply connected with.


Tom, Ivy’s slow-burn friend who eventually becomes more, adds another layer of charm to the story. Their witty banter and jokey comments are highlights, bringing a sense of normalcy and warmth to the otherwise eerie and tense narrative. Tom’s unwavering support and genuine care for Ivy are endearing, and their developing relationship feels natural and heartfelt.

The supporting characters, especially the witches Morgan, Glitonea, and Thiten, are also wonderfully developed. Morgan’s mentorship and the other witches’ encouragement provide Ivy with a sense of belonging she has longed for. Each character, from the enigmatic Morgan to the fierce Glitonea, adds depth and richness to the story, making the fantastical elements more grounded and relatable.

The plot of Waking The Witch is a compelling blend of mystery, mythology, and personal growth. Ivy’s quest to find her biological mother takes her to a remote Welsh island, believed by some to be the legendary isle of Avalon. This journey uncovers dark secrets about her past and an ancient power that threatens her very existence. The stakes are high, and the tension is palpable, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.


As Ivy delves deeper into her family history, she encounters both physical and emotional challenges. The narrative is interwoven with Arthurian legend, giving it a rich mythological backdrop that enhances the story’s depth. Ivy’s discovery of her mother’s past and the sinister forces at play create a gripping and immersive experience.

The plot’s twists and turns are well-executed, maintaining a balance between action and introspection. The progression of Ivy’s character arc, from a lost and searching teenager to a powerful and self-assured young woman, is both satisfying and inspiring. The incorporation of elements like reincarnation, witchcraft, and ancient legends adds layers of intrigue and excitement.

Rachel Burge’s writing style is both evocative and immersive. Her descriptive prowess creates a vivid, atmospheric setting that draws readers into the heart of the story. The Welsh island, with its wild, isolated beauty, is brought to life through detailed and sensory-rich prose, enhancing the book’s eerie and mystical tone.


The gothic and brooding atmosphere is maintained throughout the novel, with Burge skillfully using descriptive language to evoke a sense of foreboding and unease. Phrases throughout paint a vivid picture, making the reading experience both haunting and mesmerising.

Burge’s ability to blend dark, creepy elements with moments of humor and warmth is commendable. This balance ensures that the narrative remains engaging and doesn’t become overwhelmingly bleak. Her meticulous research into the setting and legends adds authenticity and depth to the story, making it a richly textured and compelling read.

Waking The Witch explores powerful themes of female empowerment, sisterhood, and self-discovery. Ivy’s journey is not just about finding her mother but also about finding herself. The book subverts traditional Arthurian legends by focusing on the women’s perspectives, particularly with characters like Morgan Le Fay.

Themes of abandonment and belonging are central to Ivy’s story. Her experiences in the foster system and her search for her biological mother highlight the emotional toll of feeling unwanted and alone. However, the bonds she forms with the witches and Tom provide a sense of found family, emphasising that true belonging comes from acceptance and love, not just blood relations.


The motif of metamorphosis is recurrent throughout the book. Ivy’s transformation from a lost teenager to a confident young woman parallels the symbolic metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies. This theme of growth and self-acceptance is beautifully woven into the narrative, making Ivy’s journey both poignant and inspiring.

Waking The Witch fits perfectly within the YA fantasy genre, particularly for those who enjoy witchy, eerie, and coming-of-age stories. The blend of Arthurian legend with modern-day elements creates a unique and captivating narrative that stands out in the crowded YA fantasy market. The book’s dark, mysterious vibes make it an ideal read for fans of gothic and supernatural tales.

The integration of Welsh mythology and the supernatural elements of witchcraft add a rich cultural layer to the story, enhancing its appeal to readers interested in folklore and legend. The book’s feminist undertones and themes of empowerment and self-discovery resonate well within the genre, offering a fresh perspective on traditional fantasy tropes.


Rachel Burge’s ability to craft a compelling and immersive fantasy world, while maintaining relatable and well-developed characters, makes Waking The Witch a standout in the genre. The novel’s balance of action, mystery, and emotional depth ensures it appeals to a wide range of readers, from young adults to anyone who enjoys a well-told fantasy tale.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Waking The Witch. It’s an engaging, feminist, and enchanting read that fans of witchy YA fantasy will love. The book’s blend of Arthurian legend, supernatural elements, and personal growth creates a captivating and immersive reading experience. Rachel Burge’s evocative writing and well-developed characters add depth and richness to the story, making it a memorable read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark, atmospheric fantasy with strong, relatable characters and a compelling plot. This is the first book by Rachel Burge I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last. Waking The Witch has earned Burge a place on my auto-buy list, and I eagerly await any sequels or future works from this talented author. For its immersive storytelling, rich themes, and enchanting prose, I give this book a well-deserved five stars.

In conclusion, Waking the Witch is a captivating read that combines magical realism with deep personal themes. It’s a book that will resonate with readers who enjoy stories about transformation, empowerment, and the complexities of personal power. Rachel Burges has crafted a unique and thought-provoking tale that will linger in your mind long after the last page.

Waking the Witch is an addictive and enchanting story.
It's just one of those stories that you can't put down.
Between the mythology, the fairy tales and reality it just felt fresh and moved at a really good pace between those three aspects so it never got boring.
The environments in which it was set felt really immerse, I could picture myself there.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those that enjoy young adult novels, light fantasy and fairy tales.

Waking the Witch was creepy and utterly addictive. The writing style was completely unique, and the story itself was steeped in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend. This book was well written with a gripping and enchanting storyline, and I absolutely adored it.

Giving a four stars for the genre and character building. This is a novel that follows a teenage character who is looking for her birth mother but it quickly turns into a chase and then a battle against dark forces.

I didn't expect it to be a teenager narrator YA, so it did put me off, but I still think Burge did a good job at setting up who she was from the get go. And this novel is very much starting right in the action!

I wasn't really satisfied by the ending, but it was written like there will be a follow up. However I haven't seen anything announced for this...

This book had a really great premise and was intriguing. Each chapter was needed and helped move along the plot in some way. I was never bored reading. I was also never that shocked.
Without giving too much away there were some weird parts that didn't seem to fit massively but then felt out of place even after explained.
The writing was fine but the characters felt flat. I would have loved for them to have been flushed out a bit more.
Overall, I think it was a good book and I'll be picking up the authors other books. Not completely raving though

I finally got round to reading this, it's been on my kindle for s0000 long!
I hadn't realised it was YA but that didn't really matter as I do enjoy YA.
'I tried to keep you safe, but I see now that I can't. They won't stop until they have vou.
Ivy has been searching for her mother after being abandoned as a baby. She has finally discovered where she is and plans to meet her.
Strange things start to happen though and after a man attacks her at work she decides now is the time to leave and with the help of her work buddy, Tom, she sets off for the island off the coast of Wales.
With more strangers attacking her along the way, she starts to see why she was abandoned, and why her mother left her the heart-felt note in her locket.
Things get stranger still when they discover how isolated the isle is and that the all locals vacate it in winter, all except her mother!
This was a good read, Ivy's character is very likeable and her relationship with Tom is really well portrayed.
The isolated isle is perfectly described and very atmospheric.
Also I love that the majority of the story was set in Wales and is steeped with Welsh folklore, mythology and Arthurian legend.
Perfect for fans of witch tales, King Arthur, Merlin and UK folklore.
Thank you to @hotkeybooks and @netgalley for my ebook.

This book is a great fantasy book, perfect for the upcoming spooky season. The story is about an ancient power, related to Arthurian legends and Welsh mythology. The book was very enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Ivy has been searching for her birth mother for years but one day at work. Mysterious phone call sets a lot in motion. Can Ivy figure out what’s going on before something spooky happens?

This book was a really good young adult fantasy book - perfect for the upcoming spooky season. I loved how Merlin was woven through this book such a clever story. I really liked the character of Ivy who really wanted to find out what was happening in her life and with her birth mum. This book was a great mix of fantasy and real life. Funny at times with the two main characters but also with a great plot. This was my first book by this author but I’m definitely going to be on the look out for more.

i wasn't sure what i was getting when i asked for this book as i have read Rachel Burge twisted tree but its been so long so it was like finding this author again

as someone who has read many merlin and morgana books i was happy with a book which made merlin the bad guy and morgana the good one, it was refreshing and a new way of seeing the much loved folklore around these two

i love the setting and it was easy to envision as someone who has been to a few the places that were mentioned in the book and that made the story flow easier for me and i love how much this author goes out of her way to research and get the atmosphere of the places she writes about perfect. would like to see a second book but i am happy with the fact we got this one

I loved reading Waking the Witch. Great writing style, kept me wanting more. My kind of witchy read.

A book with a promise of a story about an anciet and dark power, relations to Arthurian legends and Welsh mythology. I never read anything related to it, so to say I was intrigued would be an understatement!

We see the world through a seventeen-year-old Ivy's eyes. She was left as a baby, and her whole life went from one home to another, always wishing for her family. When some strange events take place at the beginning of the book, she finally starts the journey of finding her mother. And, she has an unplanned, almost unwanted companion for this journey. Yet, she will be glad to have him with her when the world, as she knows it, will drastically change.

I found the story sweet and normal, very casual, if that makes sense. She arrives to meet her mother in a damp coat, wearing guys shorts, in unpleasant weather. It's not picture perfect, and I loved that. The whole story had that atmosphere for me, even when things took a dark and unexpected turn.

My favourite part was the first night at the mother's house. The creepy atmosphere was very well written, actually made me uncomfortable! However, after that, things didn't work out all that well for me. It was interesting, but the story started to feel rushed and unfinished. I wanted more exploring of the myths and events, seeing more of... well, everything.

It is well written, I liked to see Merlin portrait in different lights as well. But it just did not hit the sweet spot for me. I just feel that if the book had been longer and the world had been unravelled more, it would be definitely a five-star read.

Also, I don't know if there's gonna be a second book, but the ending definitely indicates that there should be one. A lot of things were left unfinished and are just hanging there.

Rachel is one of those authors that I just love. Her writing style and story telling are exactly my sort of style.

I have to admit that this book takes a while to kickstart. I even found myself flirting with the idea to DNF just because I don’t have any form of patience with books right now.

But I’m so glad I continued and let the darkness creep in. This book felt so unique and a love letter to less talked folklore.

I found myself on Google searching for elements to add to the story, my own viability to see the island, the birds and the history it pulls from.

Towards the end we sort of lull, I’m not yet sure if the ending is one I would have hoped for but that’s not to say I disliked it. It just happened so fast, the book was over.

If this continues into a series (or duology) then grand, if not, I’ll be a bit disappointed. It hurts to have a book end within the last short percentage and leave you feeling a bit empty and unsatisfied.

Love you Rachel. Please keep enthralling me.

This is the 2nd book I've read by Rachel Burge and it didn't disappoint. Based on the legend of Merlin and set in Wales the characters and story are wonderful. Ivy works in a butterfly Farm/exhibit and after a mysterious and cryptic call from a mother she never knew weird things behind to happen resulting in Ivy and her friend Tom driving to Wales in search of Ivy's past.

I really enjoyed how the Merlin legends were woven into the story and the character building of the witches. There was enough supernatural and paranormal activity to keep me gripped. A nice stand alone book. Highly recommend.

I absolutely loved Waking the Witch! I started it knowing almost nothing about the blurb/plot - picking it up simply because I knew it was a retelling of Arthurian legend - and I'm so glad I did. I could not have predicted what type of story this was going to be, it's so unique for an Arthurian retelling, and is honestly like no other urban fantasy I've read in recent years. Highly recommend!

This had a really good premise but I found it lacking in quite a lot.

I liked the idea of using the Arthurian legend but I would’ve love more information about that time. Perhaps some more scenes showing the main character with her sisters.

There wasn’t enough back story about the characters to keep me interested. I didn’t feel like I really knew them so I struggled to care about them.

I was so surprised by how much I loved this book!

We follow Ivy, who has been moved around to various foster homes after her mother was unable to look after her. She manages to track her mother down, but she reaches out to Ivy, warning her to stay away and most importantly away from the shadows.

Ivy ignores her mother's warnings and strange things start happening. She decides to stick to her plan of travelling to a little island off the coast of Wales and is finally reunited with her mother.

Honestly, this story is paced so well! I was gripped and addicted. There are mentions of witchcraft, Merlin and family secrets, I would highly recommend!

I'm not sure how useful this review is, as the less you know the better!

I didn't realise this was YA when I started reading this but I was really intrigued by the blurb and haven't read a good witchy book in ages. I really enjoyed this story, it was a fast and easy read but this didn't detract from the plot and the story development. Some parts of the story were so creepy and reminiscent of some horror movies, like the repetitive movements when someone was "possessed" or the ways the witches moved when transforming. I liked the indirect link to mental health when Ivy was hiding her feelings away which caused the demons to manifest, and the freedom she achieved when she opened up. I've not read much on Merlin & Morgan Le Fay so I found this part quite interesting and makes me want to read more about them.

IF I DO NOT GET MORE OF THIS IN THE FORM OF A BOOK 2, I will RIOT.

This book is an addictive, creepy, atmospheric YA that draws on Arthurian myth with witches, themes of sisterhood and all set on an isolated island. This novel is utterly enchanting, I could hardly put it down it had me hooked from page one. Action packed and fast paced this has quickly become favourite read.

Waking the Witch follows Ivy our MC, a teen who’s spent most of her life in the foster system. Determined to finally locate her biological mother, she find finally tracks down rumours of her, living on a remote welsh island, whom some claim to be the legendary isle of Avalon. But in locating her mother, an ancient power starts staking Ivy and her only chance of survival is to look deep within herself.

Ivy is a character who’s been through a lot, her time in care makes her feel like she doesn’t belong, but watching her develop and work through her complex emotions surround her life was compelling. The friendship with Tom and their banter was a joy to read, with Tom being the only person from her life before the discovery of her mother and the slow burn development of their friendship towards a more romantic tone is beautiful and I NEED MORE. The female friendships that develop within the novel are some of the most wonderful I’ve read in a while. The message of female empowerment and sisterhood provided through these friendships is incredible. Despite its slim size, I fell in love with the characters and if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know about how well rounded the characters are, I don’t know what is.

I liked this modern retelling of a Merlin and Morgan Le Fay retelling.

It was a great mix between being just the right amount of spooky on the level of Garth Nix's Troubletwisters series and having some nicer not creepy moments.

I had no clue how it was going to get from the butterfly house to a spooky island in the middle of nowhere but it did rather wonderfully.

It was a very easy to read story and I really liked the idea of how the witches changed into birds except for certain times of year. It was a good bit of magical realism. Very easy to believe it could be real.