love the relationship between Silvie and Azura and the witchy elements. and nice worldbuilding described

✨Arc Review✨

Thank you to the author Mary Borsellino And @Netgallery for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

-All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Hollow Witch by Mary Borsellino is a story that I approached with high hopes and found myself appreciating in parts, but ultimately left me with mixed feelings. The book shines in its atmospheric writing—Borsellino’s prose has a lyrical, almost haunting quality that effectively draws you into the eerie, magical world she creates. The setting feels vivid and moody, which really worked for me, especially as a backdrop for the supernatural elements and the protagonist’s journey.

The story centers on a young witch coming into her powers while uncovering dark secrets about her family and the world around her. The premise is compelling, and the book touches on themes of identity, power, and self-discovery, which added depth to the narrative. I liked the ideas woven into the magic system and the sense of danger lurking beneath the surface.

However, I found the pacing uneven throughout the book. Some sections felt slow, bogged down by excessive description or scenes that didn’t seem to push the story forward, while other parts raced too quickly, leaving me wishing for more development. This imbalance affected my overall engagement and made it harder to stay fully invested.

Character-wise, I wanted to connect more deeply with the protagonist. Her struggles and emotions are central to the story, but at times her motivations felt unclear or underexplored, which made it difficult to fully empathize with her. Some secondary characters had intriguing potential but were unfortunately sidelined or not fleshed out enough to leave a strong impression.

The worldbuilding, while atmospheric and promising, left me wanting more clarity and detail. There are hints of complex magical lore and hidden dangers, but these elements felt somewhat underdeveloped. I was eager to understand more about the stakes and the larger conflict, but the narrative occasionally skimmed over these aspects.

Overall, The Hollow Witch is a book with many strengths—especially in mood, tone, and concept—but it didn’t fully come together for me. It’s a solid debut that shows Borsellino’s potential as a writer, and I’m interested to see how her storytelling evolves in future works. Fans of atmospheric fantasy who enjoy mood and worldbuilding over fast-paced plots might find much to appreciate here.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The concept of cadaveri/zombies being a result of magic was both new and intriguingly fresh. I wish there had been more exploration of Silvie, Koyla, Lena, Myles, and Azura's lives prior to Silvie's death in her wolf form. I found it exciting to anticipate the twists and turns before they unfolded, even amidst the revelations of such deep trauma. I would love to see the development of Azura and Silvie's blossoming relationship. I'm eager to find out what lies ahead for Myles and Lena as they confront their trauma and what their choices ultimately signify for not only their group but for the entire kingdom as well. I am giving this 4 stars only because everyone keeps saying this is a standalone and I sincerely hope there will be at least one more book. I will revise to 5 if a second is released.

Thank You NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=2 | 😘=2 | 🤬=2 | ⚔️=3 | 13+

summary: so like there’s this fantasy world and this girl is an apprentice and then there’s also this apprentice’s daughter and there’s like a princess/queen and her guard and then a kind of evil king guy???? and magic and witches and dead zombie things???

thoughts: this was pretty short and it still took me quite a while to get through so maybe that speaks to a pacing issue or maybe i just have been struggling to get into it but like… idk? it was kind of boring?? and then at the eleventh hour my favorite character the whole book turned out to be the bad guy with a comically evil monologue, so that’s sad both for my taste in characters and also implies that the Bad Guy Twist was poorly foreshadowed. rest in peace sapphics, you deserved better. also it really takes me out of it when people say “yeah” all the time in vaguely old-timey fantasy novels. instantly kills the vibe like it just feels incorrect.

The Hollow Witch is a story about a girl soldier named Silvie who has lost her magic. She’s sent to the distant city of Arteria to become an alchemist’s apprentice. There, she meets Azura, the alchemist’s daughter-very different from Silvie in many ways, but the two are soon drawn to one another.
I especially enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Silvie and Azura, as well as the world-building.
The ending felt a bit rushed, and some plot points could have used more development. Still, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mary Borsellino for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I think the world-building was really great, and the author took her time to make sure everything was well-established. Furthermore, the relationship and chemistry between Silvie and Azura were great. I love sapphic stories, and I thought their relationship with each other has been well-built.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this!

The Hallow Witch was a story of Sylvie who has her life turned upside down when she is chosen to become the apprentice to the royal apothecary.

The world building in this was beautifully executed for such a short book. I loved the magic system and the undead element. It was just brilliantly thought out.

The diverse representation is also a nice touch. Having both sapphic, as well as differently abled representation (in the one character) was such a treat.

I did feel like the story was a little slow to get going, especially being such a short book. But once it took off, it really took off.

Thank you again NetGalley and Mary Borsellino, it was a pleasure

While this book wasn't an easy read for me personally, The Hollow Witch had a lot to admire. The world building was great (ZOMBIES!?), engaging atmosphere and of course the thoughtful representation of queerness and disability is just not something you often see in novels like this. I was especially hooked on this haunted/broken city crawling with the undead and we all love a slow burn 🔥

All of that being said, I sadly struggled with pacing which arguably is probably the hardest part of writing a book. Some of the sections had me on the edge of my seat while others left me wondering when the chapter was going to end. I found it difficult to fully connect to the characters, sometimes those darker themes and introspective styles can really drive a story home but it felt all over the place and staying immersed was an ongoing problem.

I do think this book has the potential to resonate with (sapphic) slow burn lovers, more character driven fantasy with layers of trauma rather than a high fantasy adventure. This may have not been the right fit for me but I see the heart and can admire what the Author set out to do.

Thank you to Clan Destine Press, Mary Borsellino and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🖤

The Hollow Witch by Mary Borsellino is an evocative high fantasy novel that masterfully intertwines sapphic romance, political critique, and haunting magical consequences into one unforgettable tale. While its pacing stumbles at times, the richness of its world-building and the emotional payoff in the final act more than make up for it.

Set in a world where every act of magic comes at the cost of reawakening the dead, Borsellino crafts a chilling, atmospheric backdrop that’s as beautiful as it is brutal. The threat of the undead isn’t omnipresent like in traditional zombie horror—it’s creeping, systemic, a byproduct of magic misuse that is ignored by those in power. This eerie, slow-burn sense of dread is one of the novel’s greatest strengths.

At the heart of the story is Sylvie—a former sentry now living with a disability after losing both her magic and nearly her life. When she’s sent to the palace to assist an alchemist, she’s plunged into a world of elegance and ease that stands in stark contrast to her own past. Azura, the alchemist’s daughter, has grown up in this world, and while privileged and naive, she’s not without her own quiet strength. Their slow-budding friendship, which later turns romantic, has moments of tenderness—but I did wish for more development before their romance bloomed. It felt like we skipped a few beats, though their scenes together remain genuinely sweet.

Sylvie and Azura aren’t designed to be perfectly likeable. They’re messy, flawed, human—and that’s the point. Sylvie clings to the past, hardened and wary. Azura, for all her defiance, struggles to grasp the depth of injustice outside the palace walls. Watching them challenge each other and grow—individually and together—was a highlight of the story.

The first half of the novel leans into slow, deliberate world-building, but the story truly catches fire around the 70% mark. The climax, which arrives with gut-wrenching clarity, reframes everything that came before. There’s a particular twist—delivered with devastating precision—that elevates this from a solid fantasy to something far more profound. The final 10% is an emotional gut punch, filled with rage, loss, and the bitter clarity of truth. The ending comes abruptly, but with enough open threads to hope for a sequel.

For readers who like:
-Quiet sapphic romance
-Slow-burn high fantasy with rich world-building
-Disabled heroines
-Commentary on class, power, and magical cost

Final Verdict
A spellbinding, slow-burning fantasy that builds a beautiful, harrowing world where magic has consequences, and love blooms in the shadows. The Hollow Witch doesn’t give you everything up front but its final chapters deliver a devastating, thoughtful twist that lingers long after.

Grateful to NetGalley, Clan Destine Press and Mary Borsellino for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I DNF:d this book, I'm sad to say. I don't get what I'm reading because you get no world building at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and Mary Borsellino for the advanced copy of this book.

*The Hollow Witch* is a masterclass in character-driven fantasy, a story that sinks into your bones not just for its world, but for the people forced to survive in it. I was thoroughly impressed by the intricate web of relationships, anchored by the four protagonists. The connection between Silvie, a former soldier reckoning with the loss of her magic, and Azura, an alchemist's daughter suffocating under privilege, is the raw, beating heart of the novel. Their dynamic is earned, complex, and deeply compelling.

What elevates this story is how their bond ripples out, shaping their interactions with the formidable Queen Lena and her fiercely loyal bodyguard, Myles. The four of them create a gravitational pull, a small universe of found family and desperate alliances that feels vital and real. Borsellino’s talent for characterization is so sharp that you know who to watch from the moment they step onto the page. There’s no ambiguity in the rot; some characters radiate a sleazy, self-serving energy that is so well-portrayed it makes your skin crawl, heightening the sense of danger and making the trust between the central four feel like the only clean thing in a dirty world. It’s that unflinching portrayal of both good and bad intentions that makes this book stand out. A powerful, immersive read.

i enjoyed the book for the queer vampire fantastic part, not a fav read but it was still nice to read to pass time. and take a break. i would give this a 3,75/5

I really thought this book would be an amazing read about witches and magic. But it felt as if I’m reading a fanfic to a book I don’t know. We get zero worldbuilding which made it close to impossible for me to get into the book.
Also there were passages where nothing was happening and at some point I just wanted it to be over.
I think the idea might be really good itself and the writing was also good and easy to read. But the story just lacked a lot of information, plot and lore to be on the same level.
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC.

☆ 3/5 ☆

I was excited going into this book as the synopsis hooked me, and the reviews made it sound like an enjoyable read. I absolutely loved the concept and found the magic system to be intriguing with a lot of potential. However, I felt it wasn’t fully developed, and the pacing threw things off for me. Several interesting ideas were introduced but never fully explored, which left me wanting more depth from the story.

The romance between Silvie and Azura could have been really sweet, but it felt too rushed. I would’ve loved to see it unfold more naturally over time. While the world-building had strong elements, it still felt like something was missing, and I struggled to connect with the characters emotionally.

I truly wanted to enjoy this more than I did. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, it just didn’t quite land for me personally.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for letting me have a copy of this book

I dont know how I missed this but I really dont like zombies, that said, I did my best to keep reading since I love witches.
There were good aspects to this book, I liked the idea of the zombies conflict and that they really only appear a couple of times.
The romance was cute but it felt rushed.
It was really not my cup of tea.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This was an intriguing YA fantasy with strong worldbuilding and a unique magic system. I especially enjoyed the zombie elements. The romance subplot was a slow burn that felt a little too delayed for me, and the pacing overall was inconsistent. While the ending picked up, it still felt rushed. That said, I appreciated the queer and disability rep and think readers looking for a dark sapphic fantasy story will find something to enjoy here.

What You Can Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Disability rep
• Zombies
• Queer rep
• Witches

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Ebook. All thoughts are my own.

The Hollow Witch by Mary Borsellino is a hauntingly beautiful YA fantasy that intertwines themes of trauma, disability, and queer love within a richly imagined world. Silvie's journey from a war-torn past to finding purpose in Arteria is both poignant and empowering. Her relationship with Azura unfolds with authenticity, capturing the complexities of connection amidst chaos.

Borsellino's prose is lyrical, painting a vivid picture of a city teetering on the edge of ruin, plagued by the cadaveri. The exploration of magic's cost adds depth to the narrative, prompting reflections on power and its consequences. While the world-building is immersive, some readers might find the pacing uneven, with certain plot elements overshadowing character development. Nevertheless, the novel's strengths lie in its emotional resonance and the nuanced portrayal of its protagonists.

2.5 stars

I really wanted to love this as the premise seemed promising however the execution fell flat for me. The pacing needed work and some ideas or plots weren’t fully completed/resolved.

The premise of this book sounded amazing, but unfortunately I could not get into it. I picked it quite a few times and while it had some interesting elements I just wasn’t captivated by it.
I think others might enjoy it so I don’t discourage anyone from giving it a go. Just not one for me sorry.
Thank you for the ARC.

This was a real disappointment to me. The prose here felt very basic and did not draw me in at all. The lack of action, emotional development, and depth made me really struggle to finish this book, which is saying something because I was really excited about it. Really let down