Lyrical and atmospheric, Now She is Witch reads as a tribute to storytelling. Although I did enjoy the bold changes in narration, the book could have done with being a bit more structured. It does end up falling all into place though. Now She is Witch is a tale about finding power within ourselves when too many would rather seek power over others, which is as good a message to send to the mad world we live in as any.

Now She Is Witch is part historical, part fantasy, an entwined mix of the two genres, such that you find yourself not quite sure. Are there witches, you ask, or is it just a societal delusion? Is there magic? This is a book that never quite answers those questions, but that’s not what it sets out to do.

This is a book where you sit down to review it and end up having to ask yourself, how do I even start to describe it? Reading it was a bit like a fever dream — completely immersive, hard to tear your eyes away from. What is the truth of it? What is Lux going to discover? How does it all tie together?

The plot in general is quite mysterious, strung together in a way that means you can’t quite tell what is truth and what is metaphor. Normally, this might be a little frustrating, but Kirsty Logan manages it so deftly that what it does is hook you further and further into the story. The longer it goes on, the more questions you have, and the more you want to keep reading. This is the skill in her storytelling, that I have another genre to add to the two listed at the start: mystery.

There’s also a folkloric nature to the whole thing, particularly the recurring motif of the players. Now She Is Witch feels like the making of a new one, while also fitting into the landscape of British Isles folklore more generally. Perhaps this is why it’s hard to define as a genre, with its mix of fantasy, history and mystery. Perhaps it should simply be defined as a folktale.

Another reason for this is the writing style. Again, this is hard to explain, and all I can really do is tell you to read it to find out, but there’s something magical about it, combined with the occasionally experimental nature of it (there are entire sections which are someone telling their part of the story, for example), which adds to the folktale feeling.

Honestly, I don’t know if any of what I’ve said has made all that much sense. I hope it has. But, on the off chance you have no clue what I’m rattling on about, all I can say is, read this book to find out.

There are a lot of witch-themed stories around at the moment, but Now She is Witch stands out from the crowd. After her mother's death, Lux is figuring out her place in the world. She know how herbs and poisons work, so people both admire and fear her. She wants to be safe but not used. She wants power but not to draw accusations. It's a hard balance, being a woman.

This is a feminist story with a tantalising sinister undertone that drew me in. It's my first book by Kirsty Logan and really liked her writing style.

Not really for me but great for anyone who is a fan of witchy books. It is a cleverly crafted interrogation of how we tell stories of witchcraft and our own histories.

Lux has lost her mother, the only family she knew, and is hiding alone in the woods when Else finds her. Lux has a knowledge of poisons from her mother and Else wants to use this to her advantage.

We join Lux and Else as they travel on their journey, a perilous one being women alone in a time where any women can be accused of witchcraft. They meet strangers along the way, some more pleasant than others, as they try to find a place where they can feel safe and reach their goal.

I throughly enjoyed this story, it was dark and gritty. My only slight issue was the flashbacks into the characters pasts are told in a stream of consciousness. Which meant no grammar as such as no punctuation, which made it difficult to read at times. Although, I will say it was a good choice on the authors part as their pasts are difficult stories and it gets you fully into their minds at the time.

I requested this having listened to a podcast with Kirsty Logan - it sounded very much in my wheelhouse. Sadly it just hasn’t connected with me- I’m not buying the characters or the setting, and I’m not finding myself engaged with the themes of female power, sexuality and witchcraft.

It feels like there should be a good story in here trying to get out, but as ever these things are subjective. Perhaps I’ve read too many similar works recently and my palate is jaded.

I should note I’ve not finished, but I’ve crossed the half way mark before putting aside and so am reviewing. Apologies to Kirsty - you do make a great podcast guest.

I'm loving all the dark witchy books at the moment, and this is another one that I couldn't put down once I'd started it as you get totally absorbed by the atmosphere and these compelling female characters.

Lux is tending her mothers' grave, an outsider, and having to deal with the locals ignorance and accusations of witchcraft towards her and her mother. Their house was ransacked and ends up being burnt down, Lux loses everything but Else shows up - fate or planned?! - to take her under her wing and Lux follows despite Else not saying very much about her own past and where she is going. Lux seems at that point where she has nothing else to lose, and seems captivated by the presence of Else.

They join a community of 'Mummers' who live in the forests, those on the outskirts of society and happier alongside nature than others. You are driven to keep riding by wanting to know more about Else and her intentions, and what has driven her to seek revenge.

I loved the flow of this story and the way it's told and evolves. It centres around those who are seen as different and how the odds are stacked against those who don't comply to the norm, with often tragic consequences. It really showed how society was a mans' world and these women were really up against it no matter what path they took.

I loved the darkness of the story and characters and it all felt so atmospheric and haunting! The observation of others to teach you more was a great way of exploring how we grow as people, especially when those around you live in a different way to what is expected, especially in those times. The fear of the unknown plays a large part, and how people can be hounded relentlessly due to their beliefs really struck a chord.

Loved it!

Now She is Witch follows Lux, a young woman whose mother has been sentenced to death for witchcraft, and Else - a mysterious stranger who appears at Lux's door asking for her help in seeking revenge against the man who has wronged them both.

The world of this book is incredibly lush - a dark medieval society unlike our own history - reminiscent of the colours and details of A24's The Green Knight. There is an entire society richly painted for us: a troup of mummers, a sanctuary of nuns and monks, a stronghold filled with servants and secrets - and surrounding them all are the wilds: woods and mountains, rivers and seas that can offer escape or death on a knife edge.

At its heart it's a compelling revenge quest, but it also offers real insight into both the power and powerlessness of women, the humanity behind the moral panic of witch hunts, and a timeless look at sexuality and temptation.

If you liked Logan's Things We Say in the Dark or The Gloaming, there is a similar perspective in how this book considers women, horror, folklore and fear - but it brings something wholly new and engrossing to the table. If you've not come across Logan's books before you're in for a dark and delicious treat.

With thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

So atmospheric! I really enjoyed this. I will definitely be looking out for more of Kirsty Logan’s work in the future and ordering a hardback of this!

Such an atmospheric book. If you love anything witchy this one is definitely for you. The imagery and imagination really shows off Kirsty Logan's talent in writing.

Kirsty Logan's third novel follows Lux, a young woman who alongside her mother sells herbs, potions and poisons to those who come searching for solutions to their problems. But they aren't witches, for witches come from the North and are dangerous.

After losing her mother and being hounded by locals Lux turns to a stranger, Else, who is on a quest to poison the local Lord responsible for drowning women accused as witches. Lux reluctantly follows Else, embarking on a meandering journey through the forest, but also her own emotional and spiritual journey.

This slow burn novel is a reflection on the trauma and horrors women through history have faced at the hands of men and society. It's a dark and powerful book with many nuances. Logan's writing is poetic and she evokes the dark mystery of the woods, and oppressive atmosphere of the stronghold with a mixture of vivid realism and fantastical lore. The book holds a perfect balance in the liminal space between witchcraft as the practice of 'wise women' and real magic, and Logan never really falls on either side, leaving this question open to the reader. Equally in Lux, Logan creates a complex character - not only a strong relatable heroine, but a flawed young woman, with a raw hunger.

Sections of the novel are written in stream of consciousness, which is very effective for tapping into the minds of the characters, but difficult to read, causing the story to loose its flow and momentum. At times there are also elements of horror and violence connected to animals which, while inherently tied to histories of witchcraft, didn't always feel necessary to the story.

Now She is Witch is a deliciously dark, and sinister read with feminist undertones, perfect for anyone who is a fan of witchy books. It is a cleverly crafted interrogation of how we tell stories of witchcraft and our own histories.

I liked the majority of "Now She is Witch" by Kirsty Logan, a very different witch story to those I've read in the past. What I enjoyed the most is how each chapter had a different title (the first part at least) and the title defined Lux (Maiden, Poisoner, Wolf etc) and showed the different roles and labels women can be categorised into. The mummers sections had a "Midsummer Nights Dream" feel about it, and loved the way that they were a band of waifs and strays. I must admit that I skipped through Lux's story part of the book as to me it didn't flow very well, a very different writing style.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I struggled to rate this book. In terms of enjoyment I would probably rate it 2.5/5 - it wasn’t that I hated it, I just don’t think it was for me! I felt quite lost throughout the book and wasn’t really connecting to the characters or the story and didn’t really know where it was going.

Also some of the descriptions of things and the constant discussions of human excretion was quite off putting. I guess that might’ve been one of the points, but for me it was quite excessive and unnecessary at times

My overall rating is 3 stars because I don’t think it’s fair to make it seem like this is a bad book. The writing was lovely and it was very layered and I can see why others may really enjoy it. I think it was structured really beautifully and absolutely has a lot of substance to it, diving deep into the lives of women and the misogyny they faced which was definitely something I really enjoyed unpicking throughout. But as a whole, this time round it was a miss for me personally! I think if I had formed a connection to the characters I might’ve been more invested.

I wanted to love this and there was so much about it that was interesting and intriguing but I really struggled with the style. I thought I might grow used to it, it’s so beautiful and lyrical, but I would finish a few pages and realise I hadn’t followed what was happening and kept forgetting what I’d read. I put it down and came back to it several times so it became a really disjointed read. This is a classic case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’. I know other people will love it and the story and characters were fascinating but it's just not my cup of tea.

Atmospheric and compelling - I loved this original take on witchy women. Lux and Else are beautifully written, and even small side characters are fully fleshed out. This is an even more important point than it might be, as the plot is fairly straightforward.

As expected, from reading Kirsty Logan's earlier novels and stories, this is a dark novel, unafraid of confronting difficult subjects head on (so CW for SA and violence abound - women accused of witchery don't generally have a great time...).

I really enjoyed this - looking forward to seeing more of it in the new year!

This was a truly wonderfully written book, so atmospheric, evocative and strange. It throws you in at the deep end and slowly unravels a story around you -- whilst simultaneously weaving a tapestry of imagery and very modern observation that really draws the imagination in.

This is one of the most "modern" examinations of a very real historical phenomena that I've read -- it thrives on the vagueness of its setting, neither a historical fiction nor a fantastic allegory. It's a very stylish and competent read -- I've read a few things by Kirsty Logan before and never really enjoyed them, but I've always appreciated their ability to string together words in a compelling way. I'm very pleased to say that I loved the writing again here, but I found the storyline equally palatable.

The synopsis of the story is fairly straightforward -- Luz, a young woman, thrown from a monastery she never chose to go to, is chased out of her hometown by odious townsfolk accusing her of witchcraft. Saved by a strange companion with a wolf at her beck and call, the pair travel to the nearby stronghold, where both their fates seem to be tied up with that of the mysterious and dangerous Lord . . .

Of course, there's more to it than that -- but in many ways not really. The strength of this novel is less in the plot but in the way the various characters navigate the strange, otherworldly realm that they inhabit. The relationship between Lux and Else was very carefully done, and there was a real slice of humanity to be found in so many of the various characters Lux falls into step with along the way. I really enjoyed the vibrancy of the world Logan conjured.

The book contains some very dark and harrowing content, and seems wound around the concepts of womanhood and personhood and all the insidious little parts of society along the way. I think the big topics were given due respect and breathing room for the most part, although of course that feels like a very personal rubric.

I was given a free ARC from Netgalley I exchange for a review.

Creepy and compelling!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

"There was beauty in the dark, and safety and wonder. The dark was not bad, was not evil or secretive; the dark just was."

Now She Is Witch is a spellbinding tale of women embracing their power and reclaiming their destinies.

Each word was so thoughtfully interwoven that I could not bring myself to stop reading. It was chilling and it was beautiful. And I will carry this story with me always.

I absolutely adored this book it was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. The whole book was infused with a creepy undertone and dark atmosphere that made me sit on the edge of my seat. I loved it.

Creepy, atmospheric and witchy... Yes please!
Kirsty Logan never disappoints me, Her way of weaving magic and stories together is un matched! I loved this book.