WITCHSONG

A young woman with a mysterious identity tries to find her place in a magical world.

After 19-year-old Rozalin’s sister and father die and the kingdom of Enhavirre is gripped by a wave of witch burnings, she travels east in search of her deceased mother’s remaining relatives. Along the way, she encounters Ádám, a taciturn hunter who, despite his gruff demeanor, helps her along the journey. Both Rozalin and Ádám harbor secrets and pasts that they’re reluctant to share, but as they travel together, their relationship deepens and becomes increasingly complicated. When they finally reach Zöldgömb, Rozalin’s family’s homeland, they quickly find themselves in danger that’s connected to the past Rozalin left behind. Seeking help, they turn to a young, dark-skinned, golden-eyed woman named Ánizs, who reveals herself to be a witch and a member of a mysterious local coven. Desperate for safety and a place to belong, Rozalin agrees to complete three tasks to prove her worth and earn a place among them “as a witch in name and truth.” As she navigates this new world, Rozalin forms both friendships and rivalries while struggling to define her place in the coven. While the prose is lyrical and evocative in places, the Hungarian-influenced worldbuilding, which evokes a historical European setting and features a largely white-presenting cast, is often confusing and disjointed, making the story difficult to follow.

An atmospheric but ultimately run-of-the-mill fantasy.