Cover Image: Once We Were Witches

Once We Were Witches

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Member Reviews

I adored this middle grade take of two sisters. The author has written sibling relationships so well
This is so full of magic. Perfect for young readers.

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Solid and exciting middle grade fantasy adventure with some imaginative and unique world-building once the story really got going.

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I have the rule to finish all of the books which I got as an ARC. This book was one of them, but I have to break my rule and DNF it. Normally, I don't rate DNFs, but in NetGalley, I have to, so it's the rating for the first 43% of the book.
I started this book a month ago, and I can't read more than 10% than leaving it for a week again because it's just boring and I don't have any desire to read it. After 43% I decided that I don't want to suffer any more.
But what was the problem? The characters... Egg was so annoying for me, but I just didn't like Spell either. The story was ok, but I bored it so much. I wasn't able to focus, but the story had potentials. The atmosphere was good, I loved it. It was enough for me, I just didn't want to go on with the story.

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If I had a checklist of what I love to read in young fiction this ticked every box!
Great friendships, witchcraft, cute dragons, portals to other places, villains, and I could go on.
A must read for any young reader!
Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC in return for an honest review.

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This was a delightful little story about witches and sisters that nestled it's way to my heart. I loved the plot, the depth, and the joy in this story!

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Unfortunately this was archived before I got a chance to read it. So the star rating is simply for the purposes of clearing my bookshelf!

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This was a really fun middle grade book following sisters Spel and Egg and their journey to discovering the truth and saving themselves and fellow friends/witches. The book is from Spel's perspective and at first the girls believe that they are 'wicked' and are attending their school in order to gain their souls. However they recieve a message telling them to leave that sends them to a funeral parlour and from there, they discover a whole new world (or worlds) and the truth of what is really going on.

This book has witches, portral travel, dragons, ghosts and other creepy characters and is a lot of fun. The illustrations throughout this book are beautiful and really add to the story. I would highly recommend this book to people of any age, but I can imagine middle grade aged readers loving this!

According to Goodreads this is the first in a series so I will be keeping an eye out for future books in this as I am intrigued as to where this series is going based on how this book ended.

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I loved this well written and entertaining story.
Great character and plot development, an interesting world building.
I would be happy to read another book featuring these characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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I'd been looking for my next witchy adventure and Once We Were Witches caught my eye.

This is a MG adventure you want to go into without reading the blurb as the reveals are so much more interesting without knowing them already. In fact, I would say that the blurb gives away too much.

I found the ages of the protagonist and her sister confusing. The protagonist read like an older child but was actually a young teenager? And her sister read like an almost teen but was an older teenager? That really threw me in enjoying it, particularly as the ages aren't mentioned until later in the book.

This witchy little number does have sisters, witchcraft, mystery and adventure wrapped up in lovely illustrations and a fun little adventure and I did enjoy reading it.

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What a magical story! I'm always up for witch stories (really, give me more, I can never get enough of them!) so I was very pleasantly surprised by Driver's novel. The atmospheric writing, the dark balanced with the uplifting really worked for me. I've seen someone compare this to Alice in Wonderland concerning the dual settings of real world vs. magical world and I really liked that comparison because I think if you suspend your disbelief, then this will be an unforgettable read for you, just like it was for me.

Really hoping there will be a sequel to this quick-paced, dark and girl-empowering novel!

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A magical story about sisterhood, friendship and creating your identity. I devoured this book. Spel was amazing. The world building was amazing. The message was amazing. This book is the perfect spell-bounding adventure every reader needs.
The story follows Spel and Egg as they receive an anonymous letter to go to an undertaker for a new life. Bored with Mouldheels, they agree. Egg falls down the well into the world of the dead and Spel vows to rescue her. She makes new friends, learns stuff about her and her mysterious mother and most importantly, how to live out of her sisters shadow. I personally loved this theme
A very interesting adventure with phenomenal world building that I definitely recommend to MG and YA readers
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free arc.

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Sisters, witchcraft, mystery and magic, souls and sailors, dragons and one very grumpy undertaker, Once We Were Witches has all the makings of a dreamy, much-loved adventure.

Magic masterfully blurs with reality, Spel and Egg are utterly enchanting characters, and Sarah’s writing glistens with poetic charm. It's just mesmerising from the very first page.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting new work from Sarah Driver since her spellbinding The Huntress trilogy and Once We Were Witches is a worthy wait.

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I have been excited to read Once We Were Witches for some time and so when Netgalley revealed it’s availability I jumped at the request button. I know Sarah Driver’s trilogy, The Huntress, is hugely popular and thrilling. I have yet to dive into those books!
For me, with this book, I was expecting a bit more of a light hearted adventure. What I got was so much more exciting, adventurous and thrilling. That will teach me to make early assumptions!
Egg and Spel are sisters at Mudheel’s, a school for children whose parents are wicked. Growing up, they are told they are wicked, have no souls and need to work to gain them back. Egg, the older sister, is powerful and feisty. Spel, in comparison, feels invisible and unknown, always moving in Egg’s shadow.
One night, after being locked in a basement room together, their lives become vastly free and new paths must be forged. From being locked away in a mansion school, hidden from the outside world, the girls are suddenly thrust into 2021 and must adapt quickly.
They will meet new people, some good and wanting to help- others will be hunting them! There were times I was gasping as the surprises, twists and turns kept coming. The melding of past and present was done perfectly.

Spel learns much about herself and she takes the reader along this journey of discovery. It is fascinating to watch her grow in strength, confidence and courage, all the while facing challenges that history couldn’t deal with.
I loved the relationship between Spel and her sister. I also loved the friendship that blooms between Timothy and Spel.
An enchanting and exciting book, full of fascinating characters and a thrilling plot driven story. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment!

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trigger warning
<spoiler> being orphaned, emotional abuse, gaslighting </spoiler>

Egg and Spel are on the run. Something appeared at their school, something terrible, but they don't know exactly what when a letter reaches them, telling them that Egg has been appointed Assistant to the Undertaker. The letter includes directions.

Don't bother with the official blurp. Just don't, it gives far too much away.

I had loads of fun with this book, it ticked all the right boxes - and I believe this might be the first instance of undertaker's business in middlegrade fiction I've read. Be prepared for cats, dragons, ghosts, spells and curses.

I like how the introduction of new material for the reader was managed without it feeling info-dumpey. The chapters are very short, which suits my current concentration level and makes this perfect for younger readers who are just starting out with bigger books.
I can't say anything about the illustrations, because my copy didn't come with them, but I can't tell if this is the fault of my device or if the e-arc indeed came without.

You could read this either as a standalone or as the entryway to a new series. I know that should there be more plot later on, I'll want a ride.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

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A dark and witchy tale by a very talented writer. A great book for fans of Michelle Harrison. I enjoyed it and would definitely read a sequel

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If you like witchy and magical reads half set in our world , half in another and your a fan of alice in wonderland you probably love this book.

Once we were witches is an magical adventure middlegrade with strong bonds and friendships. The book is about two sisters who are living in miss moudheels school for wicked girls. When there tied up in the basement for punishment they recieve a strange message to flee the school and go to the undertaker. The girls do just that and from there on the adventures start. The girls discover all sort of secrets and one of the sisters needs to save the other in another world.

The world building in this book is fenomenal, i loved it so much. And the other world definetly got wonderland vibes, amazing and dangerous at the same time! I also really liked the friendship one of the other sister made in the other world. I loved the adventure but it did only started half way so that at first made it a three star read for me. But the end was so beautifull i actually cried. ( and im not a book crier at all) So that has to rise it up to four stars for me. And the slower world building in the first half of the book is neccesary in my eyes.

The art in this book is gorgeous!
Thank you to netgalley and Egmont Publishing for this arc.

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I loved this exciting and original story of two sisters, living in truly awful home for orphans whose mothers had committed a crime. When the older sister Egg is offered a job, via a mysterious letter, the two sisters escape the home. What happens to them and the dangers that they face make this a really fantastic story that will keep the reader enthralled until the final page. A great read for the Middle Grade reader.

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Once We Were Witches is a story about two sisters, Spel and Egg who have no idea that they’re witches. They grow up in Miss Mouldheel’s School for Wicked Girls when on one day they receive a letter that tells them to run. After escaping the school and finding refuge in a funeral parlour where they work alongside the undertaker, they try to uncover the truth about who they are and who told them to run.

Once We Were Witches is an exciting middle grade fantasy. After a bit of slow start, the story really takes off halfway through when things start to unfold and the adventure really begins. I found the premise to be interesting with unique worldbuilding aspects regarding the Other Ways. The character development of the main character Spel was well-written and makes you root for her.

The beautiful illustrations by Fabi Santiago were a great addition to the story. I grade Once We Were Witches 3.5 stars.

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It's been a long time since I last read a middle grade story so I'm not sure I'm the best person to review this.

Ultimately, I found this a bit uneven. I would have enjoyed more clues to connect things ourselves than explanations. I did like the character growth and bond between the sisters. However, Egg seemed quite mean to Spel a lot of the time. I am also not certain that their dialogue sounded like young people? They spoke like kids in old-fashioned stories a lot of the time but perhaps their upbringing is the cause of this.

I'm not sure I would read more of this series, but i think there's enough here to interest its intended audience and there's certainly lots of wild scope for the imagination in the shadow way.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Once We Were Witches is a fantasy Middle Grade story about two sisters on an adventure to uncover secrets and figure out who they are. I found it to be very slow paced and not very engaging. The story didn't pick up until about half-way through and I'm concerned that younger readers will have given up on the book by then. This does not need meet the needs of our libraries, so I will not be purchasing this title.

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