We Call Them Witches - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, so disclaimer first. I’m marrying the author, no, I mean quite literally. Next year, we have a fur son together. But, despite that I’m here to be unbiased and critical because that’s what’s expected of me.

We all know what we’d do in a zombie apocalypse, but what would you do when eldritch monsters emerge one night and take over the world? Yeah, it wasn’t something I had thought about until I read this book. Sara is every middle sibling, somehow an adult but somehow still a child. Put that into an apocalypse and you have an identity crisis.
Bower keeps you on edge. What starts as an eerie kitchen sink apocalyptic drama slowly unravels with each page you turn, grasping at your throat with tense moments, ripping your sense of security right from under you. Thought it does start quite slow, Bower edges you with suspense with the right amount of mystery, strange girls who show up at borders, monsters that howl & squeal in the dark and the fight for your own humanity.

The LGBTQ+ representation is wonderful, the seamlessness of the realness of the complex relationships between family members and new found friends and your own identity is something Bower has captured wonderfully. But what’s she’s done well is that it isn’t the main focus. Yes, there are queer characters and that adds layers to the narrative but it doesn’t take away from the bigger picture. There’s something out there. Waiting for them. Killing them.

I don’t read horror, I was foolish to think because I had known about all the plot twists (Bower, count your days for that ending by the way) I wouldn’t be scared. But what a fool I was. There were moments where I felt if I breathed too hard they would hear. They would somehow come crawling underneath my armchair or from the book itself to wrap around me, pulling me into despair. I felt watched reading this, eyes pressed against my skin constantly. I had to run up the stairs just in case the monsters did get me. I hadn’t felt that fear since I was a kid.

There were mistakes, some continuity errors which I actually had the privilege of giving this feedback straight to Bower in screenshots and mumbled voice notes and late night mutterings. But this is an unfinished version, we go into reading this knowing this won’t be the final edit as arc readers. But apart from those mistakes, this is all in all an enthralling, capturing, horrific read which will entrap you into family dynamics, first relationships, folklore, monsters and some excellently named chickens.

This book kept me guessing. It jumped between past and present, and even though it’s one POV, you start to question whether one character’s reality is consistent with another’s. I really liked the horror elements that are woven in and the vivid descriptions of how the ‘witches’ adapt to their environment with ease. It’s a story about a family trying their best to survive an apocalypse, and the self-discovery that comes with falling in love unexpectedly. There is great LGBTQ representation in the form of wlw and a non-binary character, touching on the challenges that that person has faced in the past. It starts out a little slow but gradually builds as more elements are brought in, and I didn’t expect the twist at the end. Overall a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I’m not sure what to say about this book; it had me feeling so many different things. It was so different to anything I’ve read before, but I finished this book in a couple of days. I really felt for Sara and everything she went through with her family. The character and plot development are just enough to keep you hooked. Even though there isn’t a huge amount going on in the book, it still keeps you guessing about what’s going to happen. The whole way through, it has you second-guessing everything. There is a great twist near the end of the book. I really like the style of writing and connected with the story. I think this author is great and will be looking out for more

This is a gripping folk horror story.
Sara’s fight for survival—and her growing bond with the mysterious Parsley—adds emotional depth to a world stalked by terrifying eldritch creatures.

Blending folklore, fear, and queer romance, this book is as heartfelt as it is haunting. A must-read for fans of eerie, character-driven horror.

After deciding to read the first couple pages of this book to get a feel for the vibe, I then proceeded to read the entire thing in one night (I was too scared to sleep). It is utterly addictive, such a perfect mix between fast paced action and tender reflection that I genuinely couldn't put it down.

We follow Sara as she tries to make sense of gorwing up and finding her own way in life, set to the backdrop of post- apocalyptic Britain. Paranormal creatures stalk the lands, taking a variety of shapes as they hunt down the few humans left alive. Things take a turn for Sara when a mysterious girl shows up just outside the wards of her familys base, but will this be a positive change? Or will things get a whole lot worse?

I am a horror film fanatic, seriously, I've watched them all. However, I always found books in the horror genre to be a bit of a let down. Bower has completely changed this for me! It was tense, eerie and downright frightening at times and I loved every page! I especially enjoyed the nods to traditonal folklore throughout, and the title is such a clever reference to what makes this so scary - the inability to define the unknown.

Bower wrote a cast of characters that were all very lovable (even if I did have beef with Danny for most of it), and the Queer representation was spot on.

The only reason this is a four star read for me is that I found the descriptions a little repetitive at times, and I thought a few scenes could have been a bit clearer.

Ultimately, this is a book I would recommend everyone read, especially horror lovers. The ending had me reeling, and I will definitely be reading whatever else Bower graces us with in the future.