So Witches We Became

by Jill Baguchinsky

Step into your witchy power or be swallowed by the curse– the choice is yours.

A queer, feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, this ode to female-rage is a perfect pick for fans of She Is a Haunting, and a reminder that if "boys will be boys", girls will fight back. 

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. Reading like a YA feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, So Witches We Became is a diverse, queer horror about female friendship, the emotional aftermath of surviving assault, and how to find power in the shadows of your past. 

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Fantasy, Queer, Witches, LGBT, Lesbian

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 23, 2024

About the author

Jill Baguchinsky grew up fluent in darkness and Disney. She spent much of her life on a barrier island just off the coast of Southwest Florida, where she read way too much Stephen King and dodged more hurricanes than she could count.

Jill still lives in Florida, but after one hurricane too many, she and her mini menagerie of rescue animals moved inland. Aside from the manatees she used to watch in her backyard canal, she doesn’t miss much about island life.

Reviews

[Brend · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER alert I guess but we should all be able to let our rapist die in a horrific way while we happily sing..

[Stay Fetters · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I know you'll soon be on your way, but here in the shadows you're mine."

The Mist meets Creepshow and a whole lot of other horror movies for something that sank to the bottom of the water.

I was shaking with excitement to read this. It was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year. I screamed my pure craziness for this book from every rooftop and ledge that I could find. The cover is definitely drool-worthy and the synopsis snatched my heart like a deliciously bad idea. And you all know how I love bad ideas.

Have you ever read anything where you didn't give a flying f**k what happened to any of the characters? That was this book for me. I found the entire book to be dreadfully boring. In fact, I had to skim through the last forty percent as it failed to hold my attention. It's clear to me now why I slept so soundly for the past week. There was nothing in the book that captured my interest for more than a few minutes at a time. It saddens me to say all of this.

So Witches We Became just wasn't the book for me and I'm so heartbroken about it. Lesson learned about being super stoked about something.

[B · Rating 1 out of 5]

God. This started off so good, between the cover and the premise and the overall creepy vibes. But that went downhill very quickly.

It took forever to get to the point (literally 250 pages before they even brought up witches), it was boring, it was slow, and I genuinely could not have cared any less about any of the characters. The spooky moments were written really well, but it should’ve been the entire book, not just bits and pieces.

I was really excited to read this, but unfortunately it is not your next gothic summer horror.

[Katie T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure what happened but around the 50% mark I started to hate this.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boys will be boys as a male with a lot of female friends the contents of this book are rough and more like assholes will be assholes. We need to put a stop against boys will be boys

I love how certain people got their just desserts in the end. The scary scenes in this book were well written and the story kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved how the current timeline with the flashbacks were well done and filled in the perfect story. This is one of my favourite reads of this year so far.

TW: sexual assault, drug use, drug, rape not on page, alcohol, sexual violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse

[natsuki jam #1 fan • wari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 / 5 🌟

“i know you’ve other things to do
another life to live
your heart does not belong to you.”

i didn’t like how there was some sympathy for gavin towards the end. it shouldn’t have been a question about his fate. other than that though it was a solid book about female friendship in your teen/early adult years, and discovering your inner power as a woman. i recommend it to people looking for some motivation and a sense of self.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I jump in, this book deals with sexual assault (not on page) and trauma.

Nell and her two best friends (Dia & Harper) decide to spring break at a vacation house on its own private island in Florida. Things quickly go south when a toxic mist mysteriously appears. Nell and her friends are in for the fight of the lives, but they must face their horrifying truths that they would rather keep buried.

This queer horror was haunting, visceral, and downright gruesome at times. I loved the chilling atmosphere that Baguchinsky created, which had no shortage of horrifying imagery (be mindful if you’re squeamish…there’s body horror!). It is evident that the island itself is a character in this story with hellbent on revenge.

While this book is touted as female rage, I loved the author also tackles the topic of sexual abuse not being limited to girls and women…this is something that needs to continually be said!

If you’re a fan of chilling tales where the survivors fight back then this one is for you!

Thank you to The NOVL for providing a review copy.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m still struggling on how to rate this. On one hand, there were times when I couldn’t put this book down. The setting was great. I really enjoyed some of the characters.

On the other hand, some parts were a little heavy-handed, and I did end up guessing a good bit of the plot. It’s also publicized as a spin on “The Mist” but some teenagers spring breaking kind of didn’t check any of the boxes on why I really enjoyed “The Mist”. The thing that they have in common is that there’s a mist.

Overall, I enjoyed the majority of the book. It’s more spooky than horrifying. I loved the theme of feminine rage and queer representation that isn’t just a plot point.

Side note: I would read the hell out of some kind of slice of life sequel which I know doesn’t fit with the story but I’m not ready to say good bye to some of these characters.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

Such a well written book! Loved everything about this but it was just missing something to make it a full 5 stars. I loved the ending It was very satisfying. The atmosphere is so good!!! There is a huge trigger for SA as well as some gore. Def. one of my tops of the year so far!

[ash🐞 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feminist queer horror continues to be one of my favorite genres

[Uyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So while I never really connected to any of the characters…I was invested in the plot and I loved that this is a female rage book.

I also loved the authors note at the end about how this can impact both gender and that we should believe people.

Thank you Libro.fm and hachette audio for the alc. my opinions are my own.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars.

I love a well deserved revenge story.

TW: sexual assault, drug use, drug abuse, rape, toxic friendship, animal cruelty, animal death, death, murder, violence, misogyny, alcohol, sexual violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse

[K. D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nell and her three friends (Dia, Harper, and Harry) book a vacation house on a private island for spring break. Everything is going great, until Harper’s boyfriend and his friend shows up. Then they realize that a toxic, hazy mist has surrounded the island and there’s no way to escape.

If you were expecting a book about witches and/or magic from the title and seeing the pretty cover, then you’re going to be highly disappointed. I don’t think anything about witches was even mentioned until around page 300. This was just a story about Nell and her friends trying to figure out how to get off the island before the mist closed in, while also learning why she hated Harper’s boyfriend. It wasn’t a bad story and it had a nice message but it wasn’t what I expected.

[Ari (Books. Libraries. Also, cats.)]

This was really atmospheric and definitely had me hooked! My main criticism is the pacing; a lot of the major plot points weren't introduced until quite late in the book. I felt like the first 70% and the last 30% were two different books.

[Jennifer Violet · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first third was really solid, the second was… fine. The last part was so heavy-handed that it was almost insulting.

I was promised witches. I wanted more witches.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5, got an arc from work

This is a very fast paced read and because of that it was easy to get sucked in! It takes a bit to get going and the feminism is a little basic but the target audience is teenagers, and if this inspires them to look deeper at themselves and the world around them then it’s done its job! It’s delightfully spooky, and the author has a talent for enticing readers, I look forward to whatever she does next!

[Clover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
Beautiful, courageous, and well written.

CW: sexual assault (not on the page), sexual harassment, animal death (fishing), blood and gore, death, trauma, strong language.

I've never felt so seen in a book before.

Nell is spending Spring Break with her best friends Dia, Harper, and Harper's brother Harry. They're staying at Straight Shot island where they meet Tris, the owner's daughter and handywoman. When Harper decides to break her promise to Nell, things go from bad to worse. A mysterious fog traps them all on the island and will kill to keep them there.
Nell and her friends will have to come to terms with the secrets each of them hold if they want any hope of getting off the island.
It's a story of friendship, trauma, love, and resilience. Sometimes we need to understand the darkness to see the light.

----

I loved every bit of this book. The only reason it's not a solid 5 is because I wanted the witches plotline to be more forefront from the beginning since it's in the title.

The book is written in Nell's POV and has alternating chapters from the past that slowly merge. I thought this was wonderfully done and in a way that didn't leave someone traumatized with heavy or sudden depictions of what happened.

I loved the romances. I loved the relationships. I felt for Nell and understood her as she grew up differently than Harper. I understood her when she didn't understand the social world of school. I loved it although it stings to follow her through it all.

I recommend this book completely. I've already shared it with my friends and they're excited to read it and I can't wait to discuss it with them. So thankful for my local library for carrying queer fiction, this was great.

[Ri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

This was such a great book. It started off a bit slow but I didn't mind it. I was invested in the plot and the mystery, and over time, I grew to care for the characters.

I love the way the horror aspect was written, it was descriptive and atmospheric without being too much. I did end up wishing there was more female rage, but that's probably just me.

The more I think about this book, the more I love it. It explores what women typically experience, how 'boys will be boys', and the many reasons women stay quiet when harassed. It goes into surviving SA and what comes after, unraveling trauma you'd rather forget, and finally - using your voice.

I also loved the friendships and relationships in this book, and how it touches on navigating changing dynamics and being there for each other.

Thank you Libro.fm for providing me with the ALC to review. All opinions my own.

[Horror Haus Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced, fiercely empowering story filled with feminine rage. I appreciated how the book also acknowledges that men and boys can be victims of sexual harassment and abuse, something YA doesn’t address nearly enough. It’s an emotional, trauma packed story, but one that’s ultimately about reclaiming power and identity. This is queer horror at its finest, unafraid to tackle heavy, necessary topics, and I honestly think we need more YA books willing to go this deep.

“They were called witches, so witches they became.”

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a disappointment. I couldn’t get past how cartoonishly evil Gavin (the main villain) was. The characters acted in completely illogical ways, and this guy was right at the top. In the middle of a supernatural “haze,” having watched his best friend die, hours after seeing an entire dock pulled into the water from some beast, he’s trying to roofie and SA his girlfriend. The actions just don’t make any sense at that time. The female characters also delve into a big heart to heart about harassment, again while they feel they have hours left to live. There’s also insta-love and the relationships don’t feel earned. It felt like the author had one story planned, and then wanted to throw in some big heavy issues, and they’re just tossed in without any concern about if they make sense in the context of what’s going on.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely good concept but poor execution.
Super heavy handed, might as well have italicized, underlined, and bolded every little detail that was meant as a lead in to creepy stuff. You gotta give the reader a little more credit than that, jeez.
Gavin's ending was extremely satisfying. The actual book ending was a bit too cheesy for me.
I wish it was scarier. And gorier if I'm honest. This book was really lacking in intensity. Nothing felt like it had any consequences because they were on this insignificant deserted island, separated from the rest of the world. Not enough characters, not enough emotions. This book is just not enough in general.
Again, cool concept. I love the idea of the ending. I LOVE the theme. It just could have been executed so much better.

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried really hard, but this just wasn't working for me. I don't think I'm the target audience and that's fine. Dnf at 150 pages.

[Keri Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Witches We Became has a misleading title, because nothing witch-related enters the plot until ⅔ of the way through the book, and I think that’s super important to know going in! I didn’t know about the lack of witches before reading, but I still ended up really liking it because of the strength of Jill Baguchinsky’s storytelling.

Bachuchinsky lists Stephen King as an influence, and I can totally see that in the way she writes! But this definitely isn’t a YA spin on The Mist, like the blurb indicates - it’s more that it utilizes that King-esque element of trapping characters in a location and having tensions slowly rise to the surface and boil over, while they attempt to survive. Weirdly, it also reminded me, especially as I approached the ending, of M. Night Shyamalan’s film Lady in the Water. Not so much the plot, but more so the tone of it. So if you like that movie, I think you should give this book a try.

I really enjoyed the dialogue and all of the distinct characters in So Witches We Became. The spooky atmosphere was great - I never quite knew what would happen next. I also loved the female rage aspect, and the way it corresponded to the conclusion! I do wish, though, that the first ⅔ of the book and the last ⅓ had been a little more smoothly integrated. I also felt, at times, that there were not always clear enough reasons given for the characters’ actions. There were also occasional pacing issues. These were minor faults, however, and they didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book.

I hope the author writes more books in this vein, because I’d definitely be down to read them!

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me quite a while to get through, and I’m not entirely sure why—because I really did enjoy it. A queer, feminist slow-burn horror… what’s not to love?

The pacing shifted quite a bit throughout; some sections moved more slowly than others, but overall, I really loved the story and its characters.

Nell, in particular, stood out to me. Her journey of self-discovery was beautifully handled, and I loved watching the relationships between the girls evolve as the narrative progressed.

If anything, I found myself wanting a little more from the horror elements. What was included was done really well, but I expected it to lean into that aspect a bit more. That said, it was still a fantastic read overall.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

[Cassie Knutson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. It felt long and drawn out and not in the good slow burn kind of way. The horror parts didn’t seem very horror. And while you knew what the plot of the book was it took forever to get here.

The premises is great.
It brings light a topic that needs addressed.

Unfortunately, outside of the topic I just didn’t love it., and it felt short me.

[Jill Baguchinsky]

Just dropping by to note that content/trigger warnings for SO WITCHES WE BECAME are available here: https://jillbaguchinsky.com/swwb-cont...

<3

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Witches We Became
by Jill Baguchinsky
narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Kristin James

Thank you so much partner @librofm @littlebrown for the gifted audiobook.

Blurb:

★ "Skillfully crafted and sharply descriptive with horrifying imagery to spare... Powerfully angry and vengeance-laden, with terrifying and very human monsters." –School Library Journal, starred review

A queer, feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, this ode to female-rage is a perfect pick for fans of She Is a Haunting, and a reminder that if "boys will be boys", girls will fight back.

🌀 My thoughts:

YES. Absolutely yes to this book. It wasn’t the traditional witchy book I was expecting but oh man was it the kind of book we need more of! At first the title didn’t make any sense to me but I am so glad I kept going because once it did, it was so good. This story includes surviving SA and the aftermath, please keep that in mind if you’re sensitive to this subject matter. It’s definitely a story of rage with a little
hint of The Mist… because well there is something in the air and I can’t tell you enough how much I loved all of the happenings. I really want to say so much more but I am not trying to spoil anything for anyone. The narrators were fantastic and made the audiobook enjoyable and held my attention. 10/10… infinite stars… I recommend this book and the audiobook as this was a hybrid read. It’s a great read for hurricane season, spooky season, and truly all year ‘round! So Witches We Became is out now!

Happy reading 📖 🌀🎧

[Heather Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, rage-filled, feminist YA horror novel. The comp to Stephen King's 'The Mist' is fairly spot-on (except, again, this version's nicely feminist and queer and anti-racist), and I would also compare it to his short story 'The Raft.' But really, this book stands on its own merits. It starts off as a more typical YA contemporary, albeit one with well-developed characters and very spooky childhood flashbacks. The setting really shines, and as someone who once lived in central Florida, I appreciated the way the location plays a huge role. (And as someone who lost power for an entire week because of Hurricane Irma, I appreciated all of the discussions about hurricanes as well as the Author's Note at the end.) I will say that the cover vibes and title don't really play a role in the book until a bit over halfway in, and that threw me during the first part, but once everything fully kicks in, it's impossible to put the book down. Content warnings for rape, SA more generally, sexual harassment, and gore. (I also want to add that I LOVED the ultimate, properly inclusive message of the book that prompted the Author's Note to end with not just "Believe women" but "Believe people." That kind of inclusion is so important, and it made me doubly excited to recommend this kind of expansively feminist book!)

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book we all needed. So beautifully written and the pacing is just perfection. I was glued from the first page!

Some times I am hesitant with a YA horror novel because the immaturity of the characters can take me out of the chilling atmosphere. This was not even close to being an issue with this one! All the characters, even the ones we hate, have depth and are well fleshed.

I am in love with so many aspects of this book. The female rage, the representation, the horror references, the feeling of inclusion. I could go on and on.

Without giving away the story, this is a book I didn’t even know would help me realize some things about my own life. And for a horror novel to do that, it’s impressive.

I absolutely love that I get have this gorgeous book sitting on my shelf and can’t wait to read what this author comes out with next! Thank you Jill Baguchinsky for this stunning ARC