Warning minor So Witches We Became spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.
The best thing a book can do is immerse you in a world so fully that leaving it feels like a misstep. So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky succeeds in trapping you in a world that feels too important to go yet.
We follow Nell as she deals with a menacing shadow. Before heading to college, Nell, her two best friends, Harper and Dia, and Harper’s brother Harry travel to a remote island.
Tris, the girl who helps take care of the island for her father is a welcomed addition to the luxury adventure. However, their dream getaway sours when a few unexpected guests threaten to hijack their fun.
Then things turn even more sinister when a mysterious fog endangers their lives. So Witches We Became is a story of survival, friendship, embracing power, and the dangers lurking in and out of the shadows, especially for women and girls.
Baguchinsky knows how to hook readers. The moment you meet Nell, you feel a sense of endearment towards her. You want to protect this young girl.
This sentiment carries on to the other characters, at least most of them. The author creates a set of likable and intriguing personalities. Harper comes off a bit bratty at first, but even her brattiness never crosses over to mean girl territory.
The bond of these young girls gives So Witches We Became the foundation for a compelling story.
That coupled with the intrigue of the horror aspects makes this a worthwhile YA story.
Some YA books make their characters too immature to appeal to older audiences. Other novels make them too mature to connect with young readers. This novel finds the right balance.
In equally frustrating and refreshing ways, the characters feel like teens. Teens will love them but adults can also connect and appreciate these characters.
Additionally, So Witches We Became has to balance a lot and succeeds at most. The story must figure out how to appeal to young and adult readers and have enough horror for those fans but not go too horrific. It has to address serious topics but not overshadow explorations of typical teen growing pains (like friendships growing apart and potential life-changing crushes).
The only aspects that partially falter by the story’s conclusion is the horror.
The opening creates a creepy atmosphere that heightens the fear and danger of this lingering fog. So Witches We Became even takes a bold approach to suck you into this danger by killing a character early.
It has the right tone for a very intriguing horror book. Horror fans have a lot to excite them. However, fans of witch stories may feel some letdown.
The novel takes a lot of time setting up the ultimate witch reveal but doesn’t do enough with it. We want to see these characters fully using and experimenting with their powers.
We want more cool witch stuff.
If Nell had discovered her witch abilities maybe 100 pages earlier, it could have led to a better balance of that side of the story and her journey to find her inner power.
Nell’s journey is important, so the story works without her realizing that she’s a witch but because that aspect exists, it feels like a letdown because we’re only teased about what could become with more development.
Nell and her friend’s witch journey needs more of a punch.
However, the bones of that stuff are good enough to want more of it.
The lack of seeing the witch elements fully reach their potential may make readers want a book series to see the characters’ personal and witch growth.
Another thing that starts strong but fades a bit as So Witches We Became continues is the Tris and Nell romance. It’s understandable why it doesn’t fully blossom by the end of the book.
However, Tris almost feels friendzoned. She becomes so integral to this new friend group and sisterhood that it feels slightly inappropriate to date.
They’re all sisters now.
But, Tris and Nell’s romance starts very sweet, and it is nice to see Nell find someone who adores her, especially someone as compassionate and empathetic as Tris. Their romance still has potential but the book loses that thread a bit.
It also makes Tris seem on the same sisterly level as Harper and Dia and that makes their romance less romantic.
Overall, So Witches We Became starts very strong with fully formed characters, an actual scary setting and mystery, and a tender approach to a devastating but necessary topic. A lot of readers will connect with this book. And sometimes that’s enough to look past some of its minor pitfalls.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for the advance reader copy.
So Witches We Became is available now.
