I adored this book, well written with an enchating storyline and well developed characters. Gripping and full of myth, legend and folklore. It workd really well as a standalone but the greedy bookworm in me would love this as a series as I didn't want it to end.

A thoroughly enjoyable novel with a fresh take on witches incorporating Arthurian legend. Burge's writing is excellent and she manages to captivate right until the end. I'd definitely read more in this world.

Fast paced fantasy which gave a satisfying twist to the Arthurian cycle. The prose is vivid and full of life. The plot is dripping with Welsh mythology. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

I was hooked from the very first chapter, there was always something there keeping me engaged.

Walking the witch had lots of themes and deeper meanings throughout . Not only are friends and family important but you can also kick ass on your own . That it’s good to not bottle things up, it’s a great way to bond and share with others whilst letting them know they can do the same with you .
The relationship between Ivy and her coworker Tom feels so real and builds beautifully . It never felt rushed or forced, just developed naturally.
Our main character Ivy works at a butterfly house and the life process of a butterfly is hugely important as a metaphor for Ivy which I really enjoyed coming to grips with .

The world building/setting was done so well and definitely made you feel engrossed in that environment.

I was slightly disappointed with the ending but only because I was hoping for more . I didn’t want the story to end where it did !

Overall a brilliant book about a young woman learning her true self with some spooky and fun magic thrown in .

Wow. Just wow. Absolutely fantastic read from start to finish.

Please tell me there is a book 2??

On my top Author list - can literally not fault the writing or the story one bit.

Thoroughly enjoyed this right from the start. The story follows Ivy who has grown up in foster homes and her journey to find out who she really is. The main characters were likeable and I liked the way the relationships developed. Definitely needs to be a second one. I want to know what happens next.

Thanks to netgalley, publisher and author

My 50 Word Review

This darkly supernatural novel was unputdownable, sublime pacing, a chillingly atmospheric setting, a flawed and feisty protagonist and the promise of danger sprinkled throughout like breadcrumbs. The anticipation and foreboding that I felt from the start was perfectly executed and the ending is poised for a sequel or your imagination!

Thankyou for giving me the chance to read this in advance. Brilliant as it wasn’t what I expected. Well worth a read

Everything about this book intrigued me and drew me in. The nod to arthurian legend, witches, Merlin. It balanced a great horror element with fantasy and right from the get go, I knew I was hooked.

I instantly warmed to Ivy’s character and found that whenever I put the book down, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again to rejoin the story. The more I read, the more invested I became and wow, as I continued on, it definitely turned into ways I hadn’t envisaged!

I’ve never read anything by this author before but after this one, I’m certainly interested in any other of her books. Addicted to say the least and to the very last page I was kept on the edge of my seat. It was absolutely brilliant! Need the next one stat!

I’m in awe of how incredible this book was! It was full of mystery, folklore and magic, with beautiful, enchanting writing.

There was always something to keep me engaged. I loved the characters, especially Ivy, who had amazing development. I’ve read nothing by this author before, but you can bet I’ll be checking her other books out! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

Brilliant as usual! It was a different tone to Rachel's previous books, but still filled with myth, legend and intrigue. The things Ivy discovers about herself are fascinating and fantastical. A really good story, and I hope there is a sequel!

I really enjoyed Waking the Witch as a whole. While the dialogue felt strange to me, it wasn’t too bad and I was easily engaged enough by the rest of the story to not mind too much.
What I really loved about this story is its unique spin on King Arthur legends. I am a sucker for the Arthurian legends and any book involving them gets automatic points from me, so I was absolutely thrilled to read how this one played out. Again, it was such a unique spin on the events and I loved the shift in powers from it.
I wish there was a little more to the ending, to wrap things up a bit better, but if there’s going to be a sequel, then it works as an ending.
The romance was also incredibly sweet and I loved the inclusion of butterflies and a unique MC with unique interests. That really stood out to me.

I've read several of Rachel's books and they never dissapoint. Her writing, and telling of the story is captivating, drawing you in from the very first page.

The world building is perfect and you can visualise yourself within those settings as you read.

Characters are very well developed and it made a welcome change seeing Arthurian myth from females' perspective.

A fabulous story of self discovery and finding your true self.

Overall I found Waking the Witch a highly enjoyable and engaging read which had me addicted from beginning to end.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story throws you straight into the action making it engaging from the off.

We have our protagonist Ivy who has lived in care all her life after being abandoned as a baby, working at a butterfly house. A job she loves except for the pervy Manager who has made unwanted advances on Ivy multiple times. We then have Tom, Ivy's co-worker at the Butterfly House who becomes a central part of the story.

The story begins with Ivy receiving a strange phone call from her Mother who is has only just managed to track down, suggesting that some dark and sinister things may now be after her. And things do indeed immediately become scary and bizarre. Ivy and Tom set off to Bardsey Island to find Ivy's mother.

I adored the relationship that built between Ivy and Tom, the banter and chatter were lovely to witness and to have Tom be a nice balance against some of the more sinister male characters in the book was refreshing.

At about the halfway point it feels like we move from YA horror to YA fantasy which for me was a bit of shame because I was really enjoying the creepy, unknown, horror going on but at about the halfway point a significant revelation is made and the second half becomes more about the preparation for a battle. I was also surprised to find that this ended on a cliffhanger with many elements of the story being left unanswered which makes me think this is to be part of a series or at least a duology.

The themes running through this are beautiful. Ivy is very closed off from other people, a coping mechanism she has built through living in the care system, she has no friends and feels as if she has no family (she does not feel that her foster family are her family despite them being nice) but throughout the course of the story she begins to realise how important it is to have friends and family, and also how important it is to show emotion and embrace your feelings and we see this through a variety of relationships that she builds.

It's very difficult for me to give this a star rating for a couple of reasons. The first half of the book felt like a 5 star read for me. When we switched genre at the halfway point I felt less enamoured with it and I felt further disappointed upon realising that this seems to be set up for a sequel, given the length of the book I would have much preferred a standalone. Overall all though I think 4 stars captures my feelings.

I do hope to see more of Tom :)

I really enjoyed this book, far more than I had expected to. The characters were strong, the dark and creepy atmosphere was really well done, and I loved the integration and unique spin put on the Welsh and Arthurian legend. I love Arthurian legend and I thought the way it was reimagined and explored in this book was really interesting.

The characters were all well developed and interactions were nuanced and convincing and I loved the relationships between them. The themes of family and belonging throughout really added to this and the changes in Ivy from the impact of the relationships created a convincing character arc and a well developed strong female lead. There was a tangible sense of foreboding throughout and the book was a great combination of YA fantasy and YA horror throughout and I particularly enjoyed the horror created by the unknown in the first half.

Generally, I loved the writing, however at times I didn’t love the dialogue which at times felt too forced or awkward. Despite this, due to how engaging the story was as a whole, I didn’t really mind. It also really reminded me of the Dark is Rising books which is great!!

A satisfyingly spooky tale of folk magic and horror.

Teenager Ivy lives in the south-west of England, and has spent most of her life searching for her birth mother. Abandoned as a baby, and passed from one foster home to another, all she has is an unfinished note from her mother telling Ivy "I can no longer protect you". Eventually, a surprise lead points her to a woman living on a island off the coast of Wales, who might be her mother. Following a strange experience at work, Ivy finds herself on the road to Wales, courtesy of friend-not-friend Tom.

Before you know it, we're deep into an adventure full of surprises, revelations, discoveries and puzzles. The story unfolds nicely, and there are few flat-bits where you might want to skip ahead. The book does take a slight 90-degree turn about halfway through, but that works too. The Arthurian legend is woven into the story (we are in Wales, after all) albeit with a new twist. The end even leaves things open for a sequel.

I've said before I dislike the term "YA" when classifying a book - it likely means that many readers will pass by what could be a terrific read. "Waking the Witch" is typical. It's a satisfying story, which I'm sure will appeal to readers of many ages. The story is told in the first-person, and in this case it works well. Ivy, Tom and those she meets are developed enough for us to care about their fates, and the island especially is painted in language that genuinely brings it alive. Ivy, previously closed off and vulnerable, learns to trust others and to accept help when it's offered.

I was glad to receive a Netgalley review copy of the book, and I can heartily recommend it to fans of Karen Perkins, Helena Coggan and Deborah Harkness.

Thank you for bringing this book in to my life!
I loved this book- it was Fresh and original, I haven't read anything similar.
The protagonist was fantastically flawed and the character building was exceptional.
The tension throughout kept me on my toes and I loved the way myths and legends were intertwined.
The writing is beautiful and I will be recommending this book for years to come.

When I started this book I thought it was going to be another over powered teen with a terrible life who comes along and saves the day and wins the boy. But while it did go along this way to a certain degree, there is much more to the story than this.

The background that has its roots in the arthurian lore is good, like really good. Some neat little twists to the basics, which fits the story in a perfect way. The "bad" guys are not bad at all, but quite creepy with what happens to them.

A nice little read, something easy and not heavy, and perfect to relax and sit back with.

This is a lovely self discovery story which speeds Ivy along with Tom on the search for her mum and the truth whilst linking to mythology and magic, Its an easy read and the characters are easy to like and cheer on.

The characters in this book carry the story along really well - they are created in a way that you feel you know them from the very beginning and feel invested in what happens to them. Lots happens in a relatively short span but the story never feels rushed and although as a reader you know there is lots yet to come this is a satisfying read in its own right. The links with Arthurian legend work well as do the links to wider issues such as growing up in care and women’s voices being silenced by powerful men.

I was quite intrigued by this book as it’s set in Wales where I’m from, I had never heard of this island before now but I’m desperate to take a trip after reading this! It definitely started off strong, there is certainly a lot of mystery although I found the middle of the book dragged with lots of action right at the end. It sets up well for the next book which I’m really looking forward to and there’s a lot more characters that I’d like to see developed.

I love Arthurian mythology and always like to find new spins on it, and this one was simply amazing!

Ivy is trying to track her birth mother and strange things start to happen when she gets in touch... so she impulsively travels to the remote island where her mother lives, with her very helpful work colleague Tom. But things just keep getting weirder and weirder and Ivy and Tom are thrown together into a long battle they can't even comprehend!

This is out on 18 August, I would highly recommend this one for any magic/mythology lovers

I received this as an eARC and it’s the first one I’ve ever got - and what a book to get!

The story follows Ivy, a young girl with a mysterious past and the journey she goes on to discover more about it. Throughout the book we encounter parts of Arthurian legend, witchcraft and a healthy dose of feminism - all deftly handled by Burge.

I really enjoyed the setting of the book, set across the UK and a large portion of it was spent in Wales which is such an underrated, beautiful part of the world. The writing really set the tone and felt incredibly creepy at times, giving portions of the book a real unsettling vibe and making you second guess just what was actually happening and the characters motives.

The characters themselves were great, Ivy never felt like a cliche of a character and the writing managed to avoid making her into a classic “Mary-Sue”, as we so often see. The other characters were very interesting and seeing the twists for some of the well-known people of Arthurian legends was refreshing.

The folklore and legends that were covered in the book were very well researched and handled. I felt you could tell it’s something the author has a genuine interest in, making the twists she put on them seem even better made made me want to keep reading more.

My only criticism of the book was the middle part did drag a little, the start and ending with were fantastic with lots of things happening and events that kept me guessing right up until the end. The middle portion in comparison to this just felt a little flat but still enjoyable. The ending is, hopefully, setting us up for a sequel as well which I’ll be keeping an eye out for.

Overall a great book, perfect for fans of magic, myths and mystery!

Ivy works at a butterfly zoo and was abandoned as a baby. The only thing she has is a note from her mother saying that she tried to keep her safe. After searching for years Ivy finally locates her mother on Bardsey Island where according to folklore, the cormorants that fly over the remote Welsh isle are the terrifying witches of Arthurian legend.

Despite her mum warning Ivy not to come and find her and to stay away from the lighthouse Ivy disobeys her and now she’s at risk from the witches. Her mother welcomes her in but warns her that she shouldn’t have come and uses salt as protection but will it be enough to keep the evil at bay and what do the witches want with Ivy?

This was such a good book. It was atmospheric and the setting of the island was definitely creepy with it being abandoned during winter. The ending was just amazing and leaves it open for book 2 (please let there be a next instalment I need to know what happens next). Great characters and great storyline. If you like witches, mythology and Arthurian legends you’ll love this book. Saying that though if you aren’t into the above I reckon you’ll still enjoy this book because it’s so well written and the storyline is just so good.

Really enjoyed this story, very different to ones I would normally read.
Ivy had been abandoned as a baby at a service station. The only thing Ivy knows is she has a locket, in that is a strange note that her mother had left her telling Ivy that her mother had left her to protect her.
Ivy had moved around several care homes and foster families but never felt that she could get close to anyone or really trust them.
She got a job at a butterfly centre, she loved the job but not the manager, he could be rather hands on, and not in a good way.
His nephew,Tom, also worked there and Ivy found he could be very annoying but what made the job good was a lot of the people that came and some of the older ones were regulars, using the butterfly house to keep warm.
Ivy had been searching for her mum and one day someone was able to give Ivy a lead as to where she may be, this started both Ivy and Tom on a track that would be had to believe.

This superbly atmospheric novel takes us into the life of Ivy who has been searching for her birth mother and finally tracks her down to a island off the coast of Wales. Arriving unannounced she’s unsure of what she’ll find, especially as the island is uninhabited in the darker months. Here is a dark power at work here, and her family has secrets which are dark and frightening. This great novel draws on traditional legends and mythology, and in true Rachel Burge style, is steeped in the most amazing atmosphere. A great fantastical adventure.

I would like to note that I have also picked up a finished copy as they were for sale early at YALC in London last weekend, when Rachel was there to sign her books. This does not influence my review, however I would like to make it known that Rachel and the final copy of this book are lovely - however having finished reading the book the cover doesn't fully align with the story and is misleading. The light house and the birds are fine but the bottom half of the book cover... just doesn't make sense :(

Firstly - Rachel has given me everything atmospheric and creepy that I loved in her first duology, but based it on an island in Wales and I am <b>here</b> for it. I'm not a horror reader, and I'm not the best with thrillers either but give me Mythology that makes me want to keep the lights on so I can keep turning pages?? I'm sold.

Second - The way Arthurian legend has been spun through this book, is so cool. It's so subtle while Ivy is learning and it increases as she learns and just Ahhh. Learning with the characters is my favourite way to have a plot evolve and I am HAPPY.

Third - Ivy. Can I hug her? Just a little bit.

Four - The family / Sisterhood / Found Family / Friendship plots within this book are *chefs kiss*. I'm not saying more for spoilers but just... Yes.

Five - I am HOPING that there is a second book coming. Please? Maybe just a little one?

If you want creepy fantasy (I’m talking a little bit of horror movie) with witchcraft and legends and a little bit of romance then this is definitely the book for you. It made me a little afraid of the dark and things that go bump in the night, so not your standard fantasy novel but so hard to put down.

Ivy is a fiercely independent and closed off 17 year old girl, abandoned at birth and searching for her mother. When strange things start happening to her at work after a strange call from her birth mother, she makes the trip with her friend, Tom, from work to the isolated island where she lives. You could pluck this foggy, electricity free and deserted island straight from the plot of a horror movie and kudos to Tom and Ivy for going, because I would 100% have stayed on dry land with internet and phone signal.

There’s a lot of mysterious things happening on the island that Tom is understandably sceptical about until he’s drawn into the fray, but he supports Ivy and her ability to look after herself whilst still being protective of this strange girl who shares next to nothing about her life. This book cleverly shows the strength and lightness in sharing your feelings with others and allowing yourself to connect instead of bottling everything up and being plagued by the darkness of your own emotions and isolation. Tom and Ivy open up to each other and become closer as their situation becomes more fraught, ancient legends, witchcraft and sisterhood driving this story forward.

Thank you for allowing me access to this book. I love any story based around witches.

I enjoyed this book. I think I would describe it as young adult. Seeing as Ivy is 17. She has a lot of learning and finding herself in this book to do, and I think it’s the perfect book for a YA who may be struggling to open up and find who they are as a person.

I enjoyed the story. It wasn’t anything to shout about but I enjoyed it none the less. The ending left me wondering if this book will be part of a series? I mean there is so much more to the story so I would definitely pick up the second book if there was to be one.

OK, first things first, @rachelburgewriter I sincerely hope you have a sequel planned for this.... I need more!!

When a promo arrived in my inbox for Waking the Witch I was drawn in by the mention of Arthurian legend and Welsh mythology. I love a book that centres around any mythology, they are often some of my favourites. This is no exception.

I really enjoyed Rachel's writing style, it flowed easily and had me laughing more than once (honourable mention to my new favourite insult, cockwomble) and I loved the fact that it made me laugh in an otherwise creepy and mysterious setting. It was really refreshing to see that mix rather than being all sombre and serious or all lighthearted and comedic. It felt realistic. Rachel's imagery was top notch, I could picture the characters and settings without even having to think about it much, which meant it was like watching a movie in my head as I read 🤣

I loved the sisterhood especially and the character development as Ivy worked through her past trauma to learn more about herself.

I definitely highly recommend this read and have popped my order in for a physical copy to adorn my shelves ❤️💙

Wow wow . Once again Rachel has blonde out of thr water with this book. I just love her writing style and the atmosphere she creates .

I am excited to read more from her

I do not usually read book of this genre, but I actually enjoyed it. I found it unusually strange, very descriptive, and entertaining. I find Rachel to be a really good author and will definatly read more of her books

Thank you to Netgalley, Rachel Burge and Bonnier Books Uk: Hot Key Books, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have always been interested in Arthurian legends and this was a straight up must read for me especially as it includes my home country. This was full of magic, mystery and folklore which made it even more of a must read as I am a novice witch myself (or at least I hope I am) – I could not put it down and have gone straight to pre-order a physical copy so I can re-read it again and again. The characters and their development were outstanding, and I can’t wait to read more by Rachel – one question – will there be a sequel????

Ivy, abandoned by her mother as a baby, has succeeded in making contact with her mother at last - except her mother says to stay away. Strange things start happening which only make Ivy more determined to meet her mother and get an explanation. To her annoyance and gratefulness, her co-worker, Tom accompanies her on the journey.
The truth of Ivy's story is stranger than either she or Tom could ever have imagined as it has its roots in the story of Merlin, King Arthur's magician. The pair find themselves in great danger with no-one to help but themselves - or so they think.
Throughout this book, I felt the pain, confusion, fear and anger that Ivy felt as she learns more about herself and her origins. There are vivid descriptions of the landscape and the characters which made everything very real.
The book ends in a way that could lead to a sequel but could leave the following chapters to the reader's imagination. Generally, I am a slow reader but I sped through this book wanting to know what happened next - always a sign of a good book!
I thoroughly recommend this book for its re-imagining of the Arthurian legend in a modern setting.

I loved the way this book took the every day and slowly gave it a dark and horror-filled twist. Ivy is a lost child abandoned to the care system and has brought herself up as best she could having been abandoned as a baby. But finding her birth mother isn’t the dream she thought it would be, and things quickly descend into nightmare.

This is a fast paced book with so many elements brought in, it was great fun to read.

Ivy is about to find out who she really is. Brought up in care homes, she is aware of her need to self-protect and is fiercely independent. She has insular interests, no real friends but a job in a butterfly house/museum, which she loves.

However weird things start to happen after she reaches out to find her real mum. She starts seeing shadows and people act strangely and aggressively around her...

Ivy is a lovely well-rounded character, despite the trials of her upbringing. She knows her own flaws, but probably hasn’t faced them head on at this juncture. She is sharp, good natured and can assert herself.
Heading to a remote Welsh lighthouse, things take a darker and scarier turn. One that is extremely immersive and intense.

Thankfully she has Tom, her co-worker with her, and here there is a blossoming relationship , which develops really nicely throughout the book. There are some sweet connections about the development of caterpillars into butterflies and the evolution of Ivy’s own life. There are also deeper links about strong women and the bond of family relationships that evolve as Ivy discovers her links to history and her family of witches. I wasn’t entirely sold re the Arthurian links but just ran with this element. It did bring a nice flavour of magic and had a strong witchy feel. The immediate ending ideally needed to be eked out a tad more than it was, but it was in all, a very atmospheric and dark YA tale with a lovely element of romance.

Wow, wow, wow! Gripping from the first chapter, this book was absolutely page turning and my new favourite! It had everything I love, witches, magick, Avalon, Merlin and so much more. What a twist on Merlin. I loved it. A great read that shows the true power of what love can do!

Wow wow wow! I haven’t read as much of a book in one day in ages, over 170 pages in one sitting! Just brilliant.

I enjoy a good YA book with a strong main character and this certainly ticked those boxes. Ivy is a young girl, abandoned at birth and trying to trace her real mother. She finds her, but that’s when it all starts to go wrong. The mythology and legend within this book are brilliant, I’ve always been a fan of Arthur and Merlin (The Sword In The Stone was one of my favourite films growing up) and this incorporates them seamlessly. I don’t want to say more that might give away the story so just go read it. The cover is stunning too.

I am so looking forward to reading more by this author, and keeping everything crossed there is more to follow this one.

Honestly this had me at the Title and the Cover! This was a real coming of age story with realistic characters (even if they were witches) and a gripping story! Ivy was a badass and held her own the whole way through the book no matter what was thrown at her, although we do get to see her vulnerable side too!

A book filled with witches, myths folklore and legend what more could you want? A little sprinkle of romance and found family just adds to this really enjoyable YA story, definitely kept me turning the pages right to the very end!

Would love a second book to follow the story!

“The caterpillar becomes a butterfly not through struggle, but surrender”

In Waking the Witch we meet a teenage Ivy who has just tracked down her birth mother after being adopted, and sent her a letter with her contact info. Around the time her mother calls with a warning to stay away, Ivy starts to realise strange happenings all around her and must, of course, ignore her mothers warning and track her down to an island. When she gets there Ivy’s world gets turned upside down in this YA thriller steeped in Aruthurian legend and Welsh mythology.

As a self-confessed scaredy cat, I wanted to shy away from this book when I saw ‘horror elements’, but being on the witchy kick that I am, I couldn’t resist a book with the literal word in the title. I’m so glad I picked this up. Yes, it was a little creepy, but nothing I couldn’t handle and that slightly darker mood was contrasted by the humour of Tom, the friend/love interest. I thought this was a fresh take on witches and I loved that it was an empowered coming of age story. I was gripped from beginning to end and even though I felt like the crisis was maybe a little too easily solved, I thoroughly enjoyed the incorporation of myth and legend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hot Key Books for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.