Praise for The Witchery
"The Witcheryis a dark, delicious delight. S. Isabelle is a debut to watch." — Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation
"Meet your new favorite squad of witches! The Witchery by S. Isabelle is filled with dark magic, bewitching prose, and enchanting characters. It has everything I love in a book — badass witches, a kiss of romance, and a touch of horror. Isabelle is a powerful new voice in young adult fantasy and this is a debut you do not want to miss!" — Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
"A twisty and spooky debut." — Kirkus Reviews
"Isabelle expertly balances six alternating perspectives, each brimming with witty dialogue, light humor, and distinct personality that add levity to even the most harrowing events. Strong friendships and an immersive setting and atmosphere that simmers with fear and menace round out this spellbinding story of magical mayhem, whose protagonists are determined to come into their powers, whatever it takes." — Publishers Weekly
"Isabelle skillfully juggles six points of view, covering Thalia, Iris, Jailah, Logan, Mathew, and Trent, and the perspectives never feel like too much; each character has a complex history, differing relationships to magic, and conflicting goals, which both enhance the plot and keep the characters distinct. The story also offers multiple access points for a diverse audience, from a queernormative, Black-centric cast to the fantastical academy setting, while constant cliffhangers will keep readers anticipating the next return to their favorite characters." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
★"The Witchery is a thoroughly modern novel steeped in satisfyingly classic witch lore." — Shelf Awareness, starred review
07/18/2022
Logan Wyatt, a white 17-year-old witch, struggles to harness her power in Isabelle’s evocative debut. After Ontario native Logan transfers to Mesmortes Coven Academy in Haelsford, Fla., she is summoned to join the Red Three, a powerful triad of junior-year witches comprising Jailah, Thalia, and Iris, all Black and 17. The Haunting Season is approaching, and it’s during this time of year that accursed wolves emerge from the swamp surrounding the school to devour any soul unlucky enough to cross their path. Necromancer Iris is convinced that Logan is the key to helping them end once and for all the hex that threatens their beloved town, but unbeknownst to the teens, supernatural forces beyond the wolves threaten the safety of their coven and all of Haelsford. While some plot threads remain unresolved, Isabelle expertly balances six alternating perspectives, each brimming with witty dialogue, light humor, and distinct personality that add levity to even the most harrowing events. Strong friendships and an immersive setting and atmosphere that simmers with fear and menace round out this spellbinding story of magical mayhem, whose protagonists are determined to come into their powers, whatever it takes. Ages 14–up. (July)
2022-05-10
Six teens use witchery and myth to try to reverse a town’s legacy.
As Halloween approaches, six young people’s paths converge in Haelsford, Florida: Logan Wyatt, a new witch student who still struggles to do basic spells; Jailah Simmons, Thalia Blackwood, and Iris Keaton-Foster, who form a clique of powerful witches dubbed the Red Three; and Trent Hogarth and Mathew Beaumont, two mundanes—those with no magical ability—who live in the cursed town of Haelsford and attend Hammersmitt School for Exceptional Young Men. Logan is relatively new at Mesmortes Coven Academy, but even newbies know of the entrancing Red Three and lust to be a part of their circle. To Logan’s surprise, she’s the one they’ve set their sights on, inviting her into their fold just a few weeks before Haelsford’s yearly hex brings deadly Wolves to its streets. Some readers may find the six perspectives jarring, while others will revel in the quick switches among different points of view as Haelsford’s central mystery unfolds. Necromancer Iris and greenwitch Thalia steal the show with spellbinding backstories and conflicts with others characters, while the rest feel less memorable by comparison. Most main characters are Black; Mathew and Logan are White. Trent and Jailah are queer.
A twisty and spooky debut. (Fantasy. 13-18)
