When I read that So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky was “a young-adult feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist,” I made this novel must-read and while not too similar to The Mist, the story carves it’s own path of power feminist queer horror that had us quickly turning the page to find out what happens next.
For high school senior Nell and her friends, a vacation house on a private Florida island sounds like the makings of a dream spring break. But Nell brings secrets with her—secrets that fuse with the island’s tragic history, trapping them all with a curse that surrounds the island in a toxic, vengeful mist and the surrounding waters with an unseen, devouring beast.
Getting out alive means risking her friendships, her sanity, and even her own life. In order to save herself and her friends, Nell will have to face memories she’d rather leave behind, reveal the horrific truth behind the encounter that changed her life one year ago, and face the shadow that’s haunted her since childhood. Easier said than done. But when Nell’s friends reveal that they each brought secrets of their own, a solution even more dangerous than the curse begins to take shape.
Jill Baguchinsky’s writing is skillful and descriptive, she paints vivid pictures of the terror and suspense. While very spooky and eerie at times, the author does a wonderful job at creating a horror novel for young adults that doesn’t go too far over-the-top. The novel was not too scary of heavy on the horror side of things, but added just the right amount of fright to give it the edge it needed. Baguchinsky balanced a great queer feminist story with horror elements to give us a complete and well crafted novel.
So Witches We Became has some pretty amazing characters that are well-developed and relatable, even for a heterosexual male reader, each carry their own secrets and motivations to add layers to the story. Whether these characters are longtime friends or new acquaintances, Baguchinsky skillfully interred them into the story with just the right amount of backstory and traits. The diverse representation and queer characters are authentically portrayed adding depth to their experiences within the narrative.
While a horror novel at its core, So Witches We Became does not shy away from exploring deep emotions, complex relationships, and feminism. Additionally, the novel delves into the psychological impact of trauma while also keeping us on edge with its eerie atmosphere and supernatural elements. Baguchinsky strikes a perfect balance between the spooky moments and the deeper story.
The duel timelines were easy to follow. I found myself wanting to stay in the current timeline, but the past was needed to complete the entire story and get us caught up. Using a timeline from the past the slowly inches closer to current timeline was a great effect and kept us engaged.
So Witches We Became is not only a great horror story but is a powerful and engaging story that captivated us from the very first page. Author Jill Baguchinsky has crafted a great tale with complex characters, chilling imagery, and thought-provoking themes that is great for anyones bookshelf from young-adult to full-blown adult. This horror story was a pleasant surprise.
So Witches We Became hits bookstores everywhere on July 23, 2024 from Little Brown Books. The audiobook is available at Libro.fm narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Kristin James.
