Common Sense Media Review
By Florencia Orlandoni
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Haunting reimagining of a young goddess' heroic journey.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
HEKATE THE WITCH is only a child at the end of the Titanomanchy, the war between the Titans and the Olympians. After her father is defeated, Hekate and her mother flee from the Olympians to avoid being enslaved, finding safety space in the underworld. Left alone after her mother's sacrifice, Hekate must navigate a shadowy, lifeless, rule-bound world, and unearth her purpose and powers. The narrative follows her coming-of-age journey, showcasing her resilience, curiosity, and courage as she faces challenges from powerful gods and the constraints of the underworld. Told in verse, Nikita Gill's work combines mythology with lyrical storytelling.
Is It Any Good?
This Greek mythology biopic told in verse has an appealing, distinctive tone—stern, poetic, and grand. Hekate the Witch succeeds in its ambition to feel truly epic, offering a dignified celebration and solemn witnessing of a Goddess's heroic life from her perspective. Told in a series of first person poems, Hekate's experiences come vibrantly to life. She's a child whose family is torn apart by war, raised in the Underworld, facing an inner struggle to find her purpose, and ultimately plays a crucial role in saving the human world as well as goddesses endangered by divine male dominance. Nikita Gill's elevated language, unwaveringly serious and reverent in tone, make supernatural and spiritual elements tug at the heartstrings, with lows profoundly moving and the highs indelibly sweet. It's not a light read—it demands focus and emotional involvement from the reader, and its committed formal tone may even feel detached to some. But beyond its complexity and ancient setting, its treatment of gender and power resonates strongly today. In a world where our reality and our imagination are dominated by male heroes and their journeys, this haunting trilogy starter serves to create a more complete story for all readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Hekate: the Witch and how she navigates the challenges of being a goddess in ancient Greek myths. How are male gods treated differently from female gods? How might Hekate's experiences change if she were a boy? How do women and girls today face challenges similar or different to those of the female gods in the story?
How does Hekate respond to injustice? What can we learn from her journey?
How does Hekate show courage, integrity, and perseverance? Which of her strengths do you admire most? Do mortals use similar strengths when facing challenges in their own lives? Give an example.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Moms ) , Fantasy ( Magic , Monsters )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : September 16, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : November 18, 2025
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