After being run out of their hometown of Sanctuary, Sarah and Harper Fenn find refuge in the coastal reserve of Bittershore until they feel safe enough to return home. But the past is catching up to them and secrets they have kept from the world, and from each other, are about to be revealed.

Bittershore follows directly on from Sanctuary, which was unfortunate for me because I can’t remember a single thing about that book apart from that I liked it. Events from the first book are referred back to a lot, and I really could have used some kind of recap at the beginning. Luckily, I did manage to get back into the story pretty quickly and in the end it didn’t matter too much that I couldn’t remember who anyone was or what they’d done previously.

This is not a typical witchy/fantasy novel. It is quite dark and gritty, with a lot of focus on the political battle between magicals and mundanes, alongside a murder investigation and some Fenn family drama. Really, there’s a lot going on, but the story is quite slow-paced and felt a lot longer to me than it actually is.

I enjoyed it, but I don’t think I need to bother with any further books in this series.

This book series feels like the natural graduation of people who loved Charmed, Sabrina, Bewitched and Buffy growing up. It's a world in which magic exists, people know about it, and they discriminate towards those who have it. This book perfectly answers some of the burning questions Sanctuary leaves you with, whilst setting up for what sounds like an incredible third book.
This book is dark, political and addictive. You may not love some of the characters, but you cannot say they aren't compelling.
It's almost terrifying how real the awful characters in this feel. With characters you love to hate, and characters you can't help to root for this is a fab autumnal read.

When murder hits, the town spirals into chaos. This one’s full of persecution, power plays, and small-town secrets that cut deep.

Two persecuted witches return to their hometown after the town turned against them and end up embroiled in an investigation into magical murder. Well written with an interesting magic/legal system, and a very topical look at how hate, paranoia and fear can turn communities against each other. But overall a fairly flat book. I haven't read the first book in this series but could tell immediately this was a sequel by the amount of exposition and constant referencing to what happened in the first book. It felt like the author was only trying to set the characters up for the next book, getting them from point A to point B. Not one for me.

I read Sanctuary when it came out first and loved it so I was excited to see that there was a second book. Sadly though, I don’t think this one quite hit the mark in the same way. There was a slow start and a lot of character POVs which I found to be almost too much to follow.

Sanctuary remains one of the best books I've ever read, so although I was excited to hear there was going to be a sequel I was a little bit nervous as well. However, Bittershore was a fitting continuation of the first book with additional insights into characters I already loved. The beginning was a little slow and it took a beat to get back into the world, but after the first few chapters I was once again gripped.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed Sanctuary, describing it as: 'A terrifyingly topical book about a literal witchhunt shows how easily hate, paranoia and fear can turn communities against each other. Parallels with brexit, and Trump's America abound in this clever, tightly plotted novel.' I had hoped for a sequel but after 5 years had pretty much given up so you can imagine how delighted I was to see this pop up on Netgalley. So, did Bittersweet live up to expectations? Well, yes and no...
Yes: we delve deeper into this cleverly thought out society where witchcraft is both legal and tightly controlled, learning more about those controls, those who circumnavigate them, the resentment it causes and the dangerous underbelly of magical society. A new danger intensifies, and the tense, taut plotting really ratchets up the tension to almost unbearable levels. We see the aftermath of societal breakdown with relationships and friendships in tatters and individuals unable to face up to their own part in the tragedy and the events that caused it.
No: Too many characters and not all need their own POV. Sarah, the protagonist feels almost unbearably naive, the decisions she makes plot devices rather than making any real sense, the red herring plot in many ways unneccessary. I did find myself skim reading at times which, after a five year wait, was disappointing.
Would I recommend it? Despite some reservations, yes - for the worldbuilding, the continuation of the story and the set up for the next book.