Holly Black meets Lex Croucher in this contemporary fantasy about a love story to raise the dead.
At Demdike College of Witchcraft, Orlando is an outcast. Not just for being the only shapeshifter in a college of witches. Not just for being a really bad shapeshifter, with no control over their magic or when their body switches between male and female forms. But because their girlfriend Elizabeth died--and it was Lando's fault.
Then charming new boy Bastian arrives with a proposition: he knows a spell that can raise Elizabeth from the dead. It's dangerous but Lando will try anything. But as Lando's attraction to Bastian grows, questions start to arise. Who is Bastian? What does he really want? And who will survive the resurrection spell?
For fans of V.E. Schwab and Rainbow Rowell, Emma Hinds' Witchlore is a spellbinding contemporary fantasy where the passion is as real as the magic.
About the Author :
Emma Hinds is a queer writer living and working in Manchester who is passionate about writing queer fantasy that explores the depth of British magical folklore. She has a Masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of St Andrews and is the author of The Knowing and The Quick and the Dead. Witchlore is her first novel for YA readers.
Review :
We Are Bookish, "Read Queer All Year With These 20 Books"
Book Riot, "The Biggest YA Books For Fall"
Eulalie Magazine, "7 LGBTQIA Books to Read This Halloween"
"Witchlore is endlessly entertaining...the relationship between the traumatized, grief-stricken Lando and the overconfident Bastian feels, at times, like the TV show Heartstopper. All in all, Witchlore is a lovely, sweet adventure." - The Washington Post
"Witty, mordant and original, this queer urban YA fantasy will appeal to fans of Holly Black." - The Guardian
"Adventurous and magical, this romance is an enchanting read."--Book Riot, "New Queer YA Romances to Melt Your Heart"
"This character-driven fantasy thoughtfully explores Lando's gender identity and the prejudice they face. The romance element is cozy and matches the book's overall themes of being authentic and recognizing the value of life." - Kirkus
"Hinds' YA debut examines what it's like to be different--particularly when one's identity is further marginalized within an already marginalized community...themes of grief, suicide, gender and sexual fluidity, and systems of oppression are discussed with care." - Booklist
"Drolly funny and with a wildly inventive magic system, this is an addictive read." - The Bookseller
"If you've been hunting for a more grounded fantasy story to get lost in, we can't recommend Witchlore enough. It feels rooted in reality yet deeply magical all at once, with a powerful queer allegory and lovely story of love, longing and loss at its core." - Sweety High
"Genuine and surprising. Hinds has created a witchy, magical fantasy that explores grief, self-love, gender expression, and societal expectations with nuance and care."--F.T. Lukens, New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound
"Witchlore is all at once a page-turning adventure through old libraries, supernatural history and British folklore, a tender and complex queer love story, and a profound exploration of grief, survival and the power of self-acceptance. Wise, brilliantly written, and full of humour and heart - I loved it." --Sophie Keetch, author of Morgan is My Name
