A witchy political fantasy? Yes please! Witch Queen Rising is one of my most anticipated releases this year and it 100% delivered! I love the family complexity and the political world building. Keep reading this book review of Witch Queen Rising for my full thoughts.
Summary
For New Orleans witchkin, there is no greater honor than to become the Prime—chosen to rule. But the title is meant to pass between two rival Houses of magic. Not to the prodigal daughter of the former Prime who died under mysterious circumstances.
As a girl, Seraphine Barreau was dubbed the Tick Witch for her ability to feed on magic and make it her own. Even among those who alter fate and manipulate reality, she was a powerful outcast feared and misunderstood by her people. Now dragged back to continue the legacy that nearly destroyed her, Phine has her work cut out for her. She must earn the respect of her people, navigate the politics of the paranormal communities residing in her city, and heal a broken heart all the while battling a parasitic curse poisoning witchkin. Between her werewolf ex, power-hungry vampires, and the skeletons in her family’s closet, Phine must learn to make peace with her past to save her—and all of witchkin’s—future.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Witch Queen Rising brings back the past like a determined ghost. For Seraphine, she’s been trying to run from this pain, the isolation, and the feelings. There’s this tension, these relationships formed of power, resentment, love, and guilt. Her magic causes fear and so Witch Queen Rising becomes a story about choosing who we want to be. What we want to be known for, to know that we can’t necessarily force people to change their mind, we can just always be who we are. Seraphine has to try to come back and confront the past while also changing, asserting power, and finding her own voice.
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If people see us and assume the worst, see a monster, what do we see? Witch Queen Rising is deeply immersed in the politics of ruling, perception, and power games. It’s about figuring out our choices and the curse of when our choices are taken away from us. At the same time, the family complexity? It’s deep, raw, and intense. There’s these feelings of reckoning with these relationships which have deeply hurt us and which we, to an extent, can’t change anymore. I am so excited for the future and need to read the sequel! Find Witch Queen Rising on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.