Book Review: To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the early copy!
Published: July 14, 2026
Series: To Drown a Witch #1
Genres: Young Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️.5 (Short open door scene that eventually fades to black)
Quick Thoughts: I love a Witch/Witch-Hunter story, so when I saw To Drown a Witch was being compared to Heartless Hunter, I had to pick it up. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining, fast read despite a few issues. If you're looking for a well built out world and a coherent plot, I would avoid this one. If you want a fast and twisty Witch vs. Witch Hunter story, this one is worth a look.
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What is To Drown a Witch about?
In Gadore, 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 that 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 Gadore itself.
To Drown a Witch Review
I love a Witch/Witch-Hunter story, so when I saw To Drown a Witch was being compared to Heartless Hunter, I had to pick it up. Though there are definitely overlaps between the two books, I don't think To Drown a Witch does the plot, mystery, or the romance as well. But overall, I found this to be an entertaining, fast read despite a few issues.
Worldbuilding
Part of the reason it's such a fast read is that there's pretty minimal worldbuilding. You get a few short explanations on the magic here and there, and the setting is kept vague. I did wish the world and magic system were more built out, but the lack of detail meant we jumped straight into the plot.
Characters & Romance
I really loved our main characters and their banter. Nes is witty, confident, and competent. Our MMC Toran is coping with grief and dealing with alcohol dependency, which is a heads-up if that's a sensitivity for you. Beyond the grief, he doesn't have many other personality traits. I liked their dynamic together. I'd say the the romance is closer to reluctant allies to lovers to maybe enemies, which I always enjoy.
What I didn’t like: Structure
So, lots to like here, but there were also a few glaring issues that kept pulling me out of the book.
A lot of the things that happen don't make sense. Some are minor details like our FMC is on the run from her old boss, but goes home every night to her apartment which is in the same building as his business. Others are bigger, like throughout the mystery, we leap from clue to a really convenient solution that isn't explained, so I found myself having to fill in the gaps. The ending twists are the biggest example because this book is dual POV, so the last 15% or so only works if neither character ever once thinks about what they're planning to do. All these issues stacked on top of each other made the book a little incoherent and hard to wrap my mind around. If you're the kind of reader who holds onto details (like me 🙋🏽♀️), these issues may frustrate you. If you're not, you'll probably have a good time.
So, should you read To Drown a Witch?
The ending encapsulates how I feel about this book. It didn't make a ton of sense, but it was so entertaining and shocking that I'm definitely going to read the next one. If you're looking for a well built out world and a coherent plot, I would avoid this one. If you want a fast and twisty Witch vs. Witch Hunter story, this one is worth a look.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
To Drown a Witch FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Alcoholism
Grief
Death of loved ones/family
Violence/Gore
Betrayal
Corpses
Drowning
Decapitation
Vomiting
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Hidden/Secret Identities
Reluctant allies to lovers (to enemies)
Betrayal
Witch and Witch Hunter
Deal/Bargain
Forced Proximity
Multi-POV
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To Drown a Witch is not a standalone book. This YA romantasy is the first book in a planned duology.
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As of the writing of this post, book 2 of To Drown a Witch has not been announced yet.
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The spice level is in between fade to black and open door. The once scene in Chapter 29 starts open door and then fades to black a few paragraphs later. I’d say it’s a 2.5 🌶️ out of 5.
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The once spice scene is in Chapter 29. It starts open door and then fades to black a few paragraphs later. I’d say it’s a 2.5 🌶️ out of 5.