Name: Joy KBA's review of Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis
Item: Bad Witch Burning
Rating: 3.5
Author: Joy KBA

Jessica Lewis

Sixteen-year-old Katrell uses her witchy powers to talk to the dead and escape her home life, but when she disregards the dead's warnings to stop, dark forces begin to close in forcing Ketrell to make some hard decisions.

Bad Witch Burning

Allison

3,5 stars - Short spoiler-free review: I wish I read this book in October bcs the season/setting would have matched the book's. I liked the paranormal aspect and the power Katrell (protagonist) has. Despite all the trauma, I'm still willing to rate this 3,5 stars bcs of the topics and experiences mentioned as Katrell has to make decisions to not end up in poverty and foster care.

Long(er) review with spoilers: Okay... I read this book bcs of a YouTuber who wanted to read it. It is described as BGM (Black Girl magic) and the YouTuber said that the author sent it to her, who said that there is "no trauma" in this book. Tell me why, from the very first page to the very last, there was nothing but trauma? Yes, there is one trigger warning at the beginning (

"Content note: this book contains depictions of child and animal abuse

), but then why would the author say that there isn't any trauma...? I mean, a lot of people dnf'ed bcs of this very reason.

When I hear BGM, I think of Amari (Amari and the Night Brothers), Zélie (Children of Blood and Bones), and Deka (The Gilded Ones). This is not that, at all. I've watched other reviews on YouTube and one person said that this isn't a heavy book. Let me tell you now: this book is very heavy and emotionally taxing; from the physical abuse of Katrell's mom's boyfriend towards Katrell, to him shooting her dog in front of her, to him pointing a gun 

her, to Katrell having to provide for both her mom and her mom's boyfriend, to her mom putting her boyfriend above Katrell, to her mom neglecting Katrell, gaslighting her & letting her boyfriend physically abuse her daughter. 

Idk who the target audience was, but if you're looking for BGM like the books I've mentioned above, this is not it. Just be (emotionally) prepared, bcs I wasn't, and I had to put the book down several times.

Physical abuse, gun violence, gaslighting, toxic relationships, parental neglect, parental abandonment

Joy KBA

3,5 stars - Short spoiler-free review: I wish I read this book in October bcs the season/setting would have matched the book's. I liked the paranormal aspect and the power Katrell (protagonist) has. Despite all the trauma, I'm still willing to rate this 3,5 stars bcs of the topics and experiences mentioned as Katrell has to make decisions to not end up in poverty and foster care.

Long(er) review with spoilers: Okay... I read this book bcs of a YouTuber who wanted to read it. It is described as BGM (Black Girl magic) and the YouTuber said that the author sent it to her, who said that there is "no trauma" in this book. Tell me why, from the very first page to the very last, there was nothing but trauma? Yes, there is one trigger warning at the beginning ("Content note: this book contains depictions of child and animal abuse), but then why would the author say that there isn't any trauma...? I mean, a lot of people dnf'ed bcs of this very reason.

When I hear BGM, I think of Amari (Amari and the Night Brothers), Zélie (Children of Blood and Bones), and Deka (The Gilded Ones). This is not that, at all. I've watched other reviews on YouTube and one person said that this isn't a heavy book. Let me tell you now: this book is very heavy and emotionally taxing; from the physical abuse of Katrell's mom's boyfriend towards Katrell, to him shooting her dog in front of her, to him pointing a gun at her, to Katrell having to provide for both her mom and her mom's boyfriend, to her mom putting her boyfriend above Katrell, to her mom neglecting Katrell, gaslighting her & letting her boyfriend physically abuse her daughter. 

Idk who the target audience was, but if you're looking for BGM like the books I've mentioned above, this is not it. Just be (emotionally) prepared, bcs I wasn't, and I had to put the book down several times.

Content Warnings

Physical abuse, gun violence, gaslighting, toxic relationships, parental neglect, parental abandonment

Nickie Mohler

This was definitely different from my usual reads, but I loved it! 

Katrell should be enjoying her high school years, but instead she has to work 30 hours a week to support her mom and loser boyfriend. She can also talk to the dead. She makes extra money letting people talk to their loved ones that have passed. However, the last time she talked to a ghost, she was warned to stop or things were going to get really bad for her. But how can she stop when she has rent due? 

This was such a great story. Katrell has a horrible life and tries everything she can to make it better. I loved her character. It's also perfect for the spooky season!

My thanks to net galley for the copy.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Bad Witch Burning

Author: Jessica Lewis

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Black MC, Fat side character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, witches, horror

Publication Date: August 24, 2021

Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, child abuse, emotional abuse, alcohol abuse, slight language, grief, animal death TW, domestic violence TW)

Explanation of CWs: Animal Death scene played out, it’s a tear-jerker and a pain inducer. There is also graphic descriptions of domestic violence, child abuse, and emotional abuse. There’s also gun violence and gore.

Publisher: Delacorte

Pages: 352

Synopsis: Katrell doesn’t mind talking to the dead; she just wishes it made more money. Clients pay her to talk to their deceased loved ones, but it isn’t enough to support her unemployed mother and Mom’s deadbeat boyfriend-of-the-week. Things get worse, when a ghost warns her to stop the summonings or she’ll “burn everything down.” Katrell is willing to call them on their bluff, though. She has no choice. What do ghosts know about eating peanut butter for dinner?

However, when her next summoning accidentally raises someone from the dead, Katrell realizes that a live body is worth a lot more than a dead apparition. And, warning or not, she has no intention of letting this lucrative new business go.

But magic doesn’t come for free, and soon dark forces are closing in on Katrell. The further she goes, the more she risks the lives of not only herself, but those she loves. Katrell faces a choice: resign herself to poverty, or confront the darkness before it’s too late.

Review: I fell in love with this book from the first page. This book is so well done and it’s one of the best witchy books I’ve read in my life. The book has well done character development and the world building is immaculate. I loved how well the magic system was detailed and how realistic it is from what I hear from my real life witchy friends (that it takes a part of you to do it and can cause you pain/some future issues). The writing is very well done as well and this book is very evenly paced. I do have to warn you though, you’ll be consumed by this book and the overwhelming sadness in it. This book is such a tear-jerker and it’s so haunting that it’ll make you think about it for days or weeks to come.

The trigger warnings in this book are recommended to read and self-consult with. The animal death scene royally effed me up because I was so distraught with myself over it. The author had an amazing way with words and makes you feel like the characters are actually there, but damn it hits hard when death happens.

Verdict: It was so good and so sad and so good.

Leelynn Brady

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Netgalley, and Delacorte for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


If I was able to talk to the dead, or even anything remotely supernatural that was rare, I would probably do the same thing that Katrell did: find a way to make money off of it. Nothing wrong with a side hustle, okay? Isn’t that what everyone keeps talking about these days? Can’t even have a fun hobby without people telling you to make that a side hustle, so here you go.

I also understand why she went to such lengths, and why when she finds out that she’s somehow able to bring the dead back to life and make even more money off of it, she doesn’t heed the previous warning she got about burning everything down. People will do whatever they can to survive, especially when they are one of the main sources of income for their family. I understand that, and I don’t even blame Katrell for pushing the boundaries as far as she can with her powers. It just sucks that that warning may actually turn out to be valid, and things may turn for the worse if she keeps it up.


It doesn’t help that I recently finished another book with a daughter dealing with abuse from her mother’s numerous boyfriends – although in The Girls I’ve Been, the boyfriends were marks until the final one… but that’s another story of course – but reading about these kinds of relationships has been super hard for me. Katrell has been dealing with a string of her mother’s boyfriends abusing her until they’ve had their fill. On to the next, the abuse doesn’t seem to end. It also doesn’t help that Katrell’s mother doesn’t seem to actually care since this constant stream of boyfriends hasn’t actually improved in personality. I mean, the main reason why Katrell resorted to using her powers to make money is because that’s what her mother makes her do in order to support both of them. So not only is Katrell having to deal with the repercussions of her powers in the supernatural world, but dealing the natural world of a negligent mother and men that shouldn’t have ever been in that household in the first place.

Is it almost some sort of reprieve for her to deal with her clients and the dead? You tell me.

I’ve seen Goodreads also label this story as a horror novel, and I totally agree with that one. Not just because of what happens when you use magic to bring the dead back to life – the Monkey’s Paw, anyone? – but just Katrell’s home life. It is horrible, and something that nobody should have to deal with, but is more common than it should be. This will be something to keep in mind as you read it, and since all magic comes at a price, don’t trust all that you see. Let’s just leave it as that. It’s still giving me chills!

Chelsea Hogg

CW: gore, physical violence against a minor, emotional manipulation, death of an animal, physical and emotional abuse, foster care, gun violence. 

First and foremost I would like to thank the publisher Delacorte Press and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis. This book is available 8.24.21!

This YA urban fantasy has such an interesting and unique premise. Katrell talks to the dead through letters as a way to earn an income, but it isn’t enough to support her unemployed mother and current boyfriend… until she accidentally raises someone from the dead. Katrell navigates through a world of dark magic to avoid her life of poverty and the cost that it comes with when meddling with life and death, including risking her physical health with each resurrection.

Katrell is a strong, fierce black girl with even stronger powers and I really enjoyed her character development. I connected with her life experiences and what she had to overcome in her life. Her friend Will brought the story together with their perspective and willingness to stay by Katrell’s side even when she didn’t make the best of decisions.

The development and pacing of the story held some challenges, including repetition of the storyline, but the character development is the heart of this story. The fears related to the cycle of poverty, daily survival, foster care, and entering the system is written with such power that it will evoke multiple feelings for the reader.

Thanks again to Sam Devotta at Penguin Random House Canada and Delacorte Press for an early copy of this book!

Julie Failde

Rachel Wellington

For fans of Lovecraft Country and Candyman comes a witchy story full of Black girl magic as one girl's dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future. Katrell can talk to the dead. And she wishes it made more money. She’s been able to support her unemployed mother—and Mom’s deadbeat-boyfriend-of-the-week—so far, but it isn’t enough. Money’s still tight, and to complicate things, Katrell has started to draw attention. Not from this world—from beyond. And it comes with a warning: STOP or there will be consequences. Katrell is willing to call the ghosts on their bluff; she has no choice. What do ghosts know of having sleep for dinner? But when her next summoning accidentally raises someone from the dead, Katrell realizes that a live body is worth a lot more than a dead apparition. And, warning or not, she has no intention of letting this lucrative new business go. Only magic isn’t free, and dark forces are coming to collect. Now Katrell faces a choice: resign herself to poverty, or confront the darkness before it’s too late.

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Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis

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