I enjoyed reading about how the FMC discovers herself and how she overcome some of her childhood trauma in this.
I really loved how quick and easy this was and how we also got so much information, and that this didn’t feel rushed!

I cannot wait for the second book!!!!

The Useless Witch is the first book in the Darkwing Duet by Indie author Savannah Lee - and wow, I devoured this page-turner!

Set in a world of witches the FMA Saoirse is the eldest daughter of the King of the Sol Kingdom - but she has no magic. Meanwhile the MMA Vale is a Darkwing (more like a hot shadow daddy) on a mysterious mission in Lanthus, the capitol of the Sol Kingdom.

* Witches
* Shadow shifters
* Enemies to lovers
* Forbidden romance
* One bed
* Angst
* “Who did this to you?”
* A dash of 🌶️


I won’t spoil too much, but Saoirse’s journey is one of survival. She has endured so much abuse, leaving her with many insecurities, trauma and anxiety. I appreciate how the book didn’t shy away from exploring those darker, raw emotions. As someone who has dealt with anxiety for many years myself, her inner dialogue was deeply relatable. It was refreshing to read about a heroine who isn’t perfect, who doesn’t have any powers, who isn’t the “chosen” one like in so many romantasies.

“Control was something I needed, something I craved, and I had none of it.”

Vane on the other hand was not your typical shadow daddy either. He isn’t rude or dislikable at all and actually really sweet and not afraid to show his emotions. He supports Saoirse in her darkest moments but isn’t afraid to give her some tough love when needed.

"You can’t lose yourself if you don’t even know who you are in the first place."

The book also has many great side characters, particularly Saoirse’s bond with her sister, Xan. She matured so much in the book.
And Maeve, the bakery owner, who helped Saoirse find a new life outside the castle, teaching her ways to cope with her anxiety—serving as the mother figure Saoirse truly deserves. The cozy bakery setting was a charming touch and added some lightness to the story.

If I had one critique, it’s that the pacing felt a bit rushed. Everything unfolds within a few weeks or months, which could’ve been stretched out to give more time to certain plot points. But it was great how the book got straight to the point - no unnecessary dragging! It’s packed with yearning, tension, a great plot twist, and a cliffhanger that left me craving for book 2!

Be sure to check the trigger warnings before picking this up, as there are some graphic scenes that could be upsetting and/or triggering to some. 



Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

I received this book as an ARC.

I really enjoyed this story! I found the characters to be interesting and fun to read.

Some of the instances seemed a little predictable and cliche, but it was an overall fun book to read.

I look forward to book 2 after the cliffhanger!

This book is good for people who enjoy romantasy and main characters with tragic pasts. There isn’t much to the story but the chemistry between the romantic leads is really good. Some spice but not a lot.

This was a strong start to the Darkwing Duet series, it had what I was looking for from a opening chapter. The characters had that element that I wanted and thought it worked in this world. Savannah Lee writes a great magical world with characters that make you care. I thought the fantasy romance element worked in this story and had that dark topic that can be too much. Savannah Lee left me wanting more in this world and to read more.