by: Lindsey Olsson
Series: To Drown a Witch
Genre: Teen/Young Adult Fantasy Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
A criminal and a royal guard are drawn into the hunt for a dangerous witch—and an unexpected romance—in this YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy, perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter.
In Orlonea, the Witch is feared above all else. Reborn into each generation, she is the only person with magic running innately through her veins, able to wield magic with a single thought.
So when guards across the city begin to drop dead, gruesomely murdered by violent and vicious magic, everyone knows the Witch has returned—and no one will be safe until she’s killed.
Toran is the Prince’s Crown, the most highly skilled fighter in the King’s Guard. Tasked with the responsibility of leading the hunt for the Witch, Toran tries to focus on his assignment to forget the ghosts of his past. And after he learns of Nes, a thief with an uncanny ability to sniff out magic, he forcibly recruits her into joining his hunt.
As the two face deadly magic and otherworldly threats, their mutual dislike soon turns to something more electric, and they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they’d never imagined. But the Witch is always a step ahead of them, and with bodies piling up, secrets threaten to come to light—secrets that could destroy everything from the fragile trust between them to the very city of Orlonea itself.
Told from the dual POVs of Nes Deivana, a criminal who survives by snuffing out magic for Phineas Wraw, Gadore’s underlord, and Toran Roada, the young captain of the Orlonean King’s Guard and the Prince’s Crown, To Drown a Witch is an enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy that combines found family, friendship, betrayal, and a cat-and-mouse mystery that will leave you shocked at the end.
When guards around Gadore start being horrifically killed, everyone knows the Witch has returned. King Harkett tasks Toran with locating the Witch and bringing her to justice. In order to accomplish his mission, Toran calls on Nes to assist him, with the promise of freeing her father from Walled Prison. Together, the two search for the Witch, all while another captain is bent on finding the Witch himself and killing her, just as he did the previous one. This means that innocent women are being killed without a trial. Very much reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials.
I immediately loved the characters of Nes and Toran. Their dislike/distrust of each other is very valid and deserved. Their fade-to-black romance was a slow burn in the best possible way. Nes and Toran are both battling their pasts and have secrets of their own. Hunting for the Witch changes them in some ways. The plot and story itself make To Drown a Witch good. But it is the twists and turns that put this story over the top. I don't even know what that ending was! Shocking is the first word that comes to mind. I just know that I need the next book immediately!
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“Caring isn’t a weakness, it could be your greatest strength.”
“Everyone’s broken. It’s how you piece yourself together that matters.”
**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a hardcover copy.**
Rating: 5
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