After her grandmother's execution, a formerly magicless elf is suddenly the most powerful witch in her village. Magic is disappearing, though, and Imani is thrust into the treacherous court of her kingdom, forced into trials against the most lethal witches in the world.
As she unravels the perilous plan her grandmother plotted before her death to save magic, Imani unwittingly dives deeper into a web of magical and political intrigue that puts her on a collision course with dangers beyond anything she imagined.
But Imani is harboring illicit knowledge of her ownâa forbidden dark magic thatâs getting more difficult to hide by the day. Now, she must decide whether to make herself a threat and an enemy to her country or risk becoming a pawn and the realm losing magic forever.
Stuck in this predicament, Imani sees only one path forward: a dangerous deal with the duplicitous princeâone she might be falling for.
After her grandmother's execution, a formerly magicless elf is suddenly the most powerful witch in her village. Magic is disappearing, though, and Imani is thrust into the treacherous court of her kingdom, forced into trials against the most lethal witches in the world.
As she unravels the perilous plan her grandmother plotted before her death to save magic, Imani unwittingly dives deeper into a web of magical and political intrigue that puts her on a collision course with dangers beyond anything she imagined.
But Imani is harboring illicit knowledge of her ownâa forbidden dark magic thatâs getting more difficult to hide by the day. Now, she must decide whether to make herself a threat and an enemy to her country or risk becoming a pawn and the realm losing magic forever.
Stuck in this predicament, Imani sees only one path forward: a dangerous deal with the duplicitous princeâone she might be falling for.
With the right motivation, her grandmother could do just about anything. Imani scrunched her nose in disgust at the prison cell's dank, dark walls. Indeed, Ara could escape anytime if she wanted it badly enough.Â
âI hope they're treating you well,â Imani said, attempting a few civil last words.Â
Araâs face appeared between the iron bars as she laughed in response.Â
Laughed.
Imani ground her molars at the sound. They were too similar in many ways and had grated on each other for over a decade.
âYou almost slit my throat the night before the arrest. You couldn't give a damn how they're treating me.â Aralana tried to laugh again but started coughing instead. Her blue eyes, exactly like Imaniâs, glowed in the darkness, her tangled blond hair framing her once-pretty heart-shaped face. Who would have thought so much malice existed in such an unassuming, small person?Â
Imani watched silently for a minute, then said tightly, âYes, well, I suppose the whole thing is rather humorous after what youâve done to this family, especially recently. Weâre practically destitute with you disappearing on us these past six months. And where has all the money been going? To those old maps you brought home? To the musty books? Because we havenât seen the fruits of our labors for quite some time, you selfish hag.â
Ara snickered. âOpen those perfect blue eyes and look around. I saved this family after what you did. Donât waste this gift Iâm giving you.â
âWhat gift?â Imani fought the urge to reach through the bars and choke Ara. âYour death? Oh, no need to worry. I canât wait for you to burn tomorrow.â
âUngrateful elf,â Ara snarled. With a snap, she tossed her supposedly confiscated wand at Imani. It tumbled to the grimy floor. âStupid as ever despite what Iâm leaving you and the sacrifices made for your life. Your parents, my heartmate, and now me. Riona, too. All dead because of you. Focus on surviving so everyone's efforts arenât wasted.âÂ
Guilt spread through Imaniâs chest as she stared at the wand on the groundâa wand Imaniâs mother madeâa gift. Ara had always known how to get everyone where it hurt. No one else could dissect peopleâs weaknesses and mercilessly use them as leverage. Imani secretly admired such expert manipulation, except when directed at her.
She carefully picked up the wand and slipped it into her pocket. Imani wished she could wield it, but to her, it was a useless piece of wood without any magical brands. Still, it would be harder for Ara to escape without access to her magic through her wand.Â
That said, the fire itself would be a powerful medium. She couldnât help but wonder if Ara had something planned while tied to the pyre tomorrow.
Imani cleared her throat, feeling less indignant. âIâm grateful for what youâve given us all these years. It was more than most. But it doesnât mean Iâll forgive you for being an absolute cunt for most of my life.â
âGood girl.â A crooked smile spread across the old witchâs face. âLeave forgiveness and mercy to the angel and deity breeds of the Upper realm.â
âI wouldnât give you mercy now even if my life depended on it.â Imaniâs voice held no remorse because she had no sympathy for the bitch. None whatsoever. Yet, for some reason, her heart still ached all the same. She wanted to cry, sob, and beg like she had when her grandfather died. Young people usually mourned their grandparents. Imani tried to mourn hers, too.Â
The emotions never came. Ara wasnât capable of sympathy either, or many other feelings for that matter. Imani brought her face directly in front of her grandmotherâs. âIâll make sure all of us survive like always.âÂ
âPerfect.â Araâs grin was terrifying and feral. âYouâll need to be the one to make the choices no one else can stomach now, like I taught you.â
Imaniâs lip curled in disgust. âItâs what Iâve always done, right? You know I hate you for that, too. You said nothing when we arrived in Riverlands as children, alone and three days late! You barely showed a modicum of concern. You simply took Dak from my arms and silently waited for an explanation. When I told you our parents were dead, your only reply was, âI see.ââ
Ara nodded. âIndeed. This burden is one youâll have to carry alone.â
âI hated you then, and I hate you now, a decade later.â
Even if her parents hadnât died on the trip to the Naiad nymph territory of the Riverlands, Imani terrified Sven and Saria Aowyn. After what happened, they were at the end of their rope and couldnât have her anywhere near the Draswood Forest, the Norn elvesâ territory. They were getting rid of their daughter because, unlike most elven parents, Ara had no problem using a heavy hand to rein in Imaniâs behavior.Â
âYou have no idea what true hate is, but you will,â Ara said. A long pause stretched out between them.
âHow inspiring. Iâll cherish such advice forever,â Imani deadpanned, steeling herself against the familiar barbs that had marked most of her adolescence and early adulthood. Ara wouldnât miss a chance to communicate her blatant disdain for Imani even halfway to the grave.
Theyâd never gotten on, but Imani and Araâs relationship further deteriorated after Imani failed to inherit any magic. It rankled the nymph witch, who expected the whole family to earn their keep. Especially the adopted one who couldnât control her soul drawâthe special compulsion magic Norn elves possessed, designed to ensnare their prey and feed on their life essence.
âWe all have choices to make in life, and everyone must deal with the consequences of those choices eventually. As wrinkled, lumpy, and uncomfortable as it may be, you made your bed. Donât you dare complain about having to lie in it, you selfish, menial piece of shit. An orphaned elf without magic. You should be grateful to have a bed at all.â
Imani fought a smile at the memory of the lesson Ara had repeatedly taught her. Locked inside the cage in the back of their shop, half-starved, Ara forced her to control her soul draw without magic. The ramification if she couldnât? Cease to exist at all. As brutal as the punishments were, they worked.
An owl hooted directly outside the basement's narrow windows, making Imaniâs heart race. Imani hated birds, and they hated her right back. She hated any beasts who reminded her of Draswood, which, unfortunately, was a great many things.
âAhh, the owl.â Her grandmother bared her teeth at Imani's startled face. âA symbol of death.â
Imani composed herself and looked Ara straight in the eyes. âA good omen then.â
âNo, because before we reach heaven, the Saints will eat us. Which means I'll be with your father shortly.â
âWe'll be better off without you.â
âYou'd be nothing without me.â All Ara did was stare back at her.Â
Imani brought her face directly in front of her grandmother's again. âWhat do you want? You called me here.â
âI planned to give you more answers.â
âI want absolutely nothing from you.â
The old witch merely shrugged. âWith power, there's always a cost. This is yours. The sooner you accept it, the easier your life will be. Starting tomorrow, surviving, despite the hatred and loneliness, will be the hardest thing you ever do. Youâll need to figure out most things independently, Imani. Itâs always been the best way youâve learned. Itâs why I opted for the cage all those years. Do it fast, though, because you'll be utterly alone once I'm gone.â
Venom laced Imaniâs quiet words. âAlone? Where have you been? I have my siblings, and someday, maybe even a heartmateââ
âYour heartmate?â A loud cackle echoed against the crumbling, dark walls, cutting Imani off. âI've met your heartmate,â Ara said with a cruel smile, âand that man will hate you. In fact, he already does.â
Imani froze. âWhatâŚWhâ Who is he? Weâve met? Whatâs he like?â she whispered, grasping the bars.Â
It was almost impossible to believe she might have met her heartmate, the one elf in the whole world made from the same piece of the Fabric as her, and therefore her fated partner. And these days, to find him outside the Draswood Forest seemed inconceivable.Â
Before Imani could get the words out, Araâs fist struck her face through the iron cage, knocking Imaniâs head back. She steadied herself with the bars and grabbed her nose.
âYou bitch,â Imani said, her voice muffled by her hand and the blood running down her mouth.
âGet a hold of yourself,â Ara said. âWhat I have to say about him is important.â The nymph growled, frustrated, as if some memory of him suddenly enraged her. âA heartmate can be a blessing but also a nightmare. Sharing power with someone is no light matter.âÂ
 Ara would know. She had one for decades before he died suddenly back when Imani was still a child.Â
Araâs face was crushed between the bars, and her eyes looked wild. âYour father was the best divination witch Iâd seen in years, and your heartmate is everything he foresaw he would be. But heâs also far worse than either of us imagined. The bastard heartmate of yours sees a partner he thinks is a poor, uneducated female with no magic. You're a humiliating weakness for him, and he'll try to kill you for it. Donât you dare tie yourself to such a beast.â
If she didn't know any better, Imani would have thought Ara was afraid of this man.Â
A guard yelled from the top of the stairs, hurrying them along. With a snap of her neck, Araâs eyes suddenly burned into her. âWhat that heartmate of yours doesnât know yet, and it might take him a while to realize, is youâll be the only thing to truly scare him. A weakness if you canât be controlled.â
âThen heâll have to kill me because I wonât let anyone, not even my heartmate, control me anymore.â
âWith him, you might not have a choice.â
âYou think after all these years with you I need to be loved so badly Iâll let some bastard manipulate me? Donât make me laugh. I will make the life I want after youâre dead, with or without him.â
Imani gave Ara her back, ready to leave, but like before, a hand ripped her arm back faster than she expected.
âYou will stay and listen to one last thing I must say, granddaughter.â Blue eyes hit her with sudden, chilling clarity. Araâs madness was temporarily gone. âI don't give a shit about the life you want. Do you think anyone ever asked me what I wanted? As female witches, we take the fate handed to us and do our best with it. If you want any sort of life at all, you will have to accept it and fight for what youâre given. In fact, accepting everyone will soon hate and fear you will make things easier. You better start now.â
Tension hung in the air. After a long, painful silence, Imani answered in a low and threatening tone, âI meant what I said when I pressed the knife to your neck. I would have killed you if you came back. I still will. So, youâd better hope you die tomorrow. Drop any ill-conceived plans of saving yourself because itâs over.â
Araâs unreadable expression sent a shiver down Imaniâs spine. She let it roll through her, trying to steady her breathing. As Ara had said, people made their beds, and the old nymph was currently lying in hers. It was an unpleasant bed she found herself in.
What must it feel like to burn alive? Hopefully, quite painful. The consequences for conspiring with the enemy kingdom and using illegal flesh magic were steep.
âThis conversation, maddening as usual, is over.â Unsettled and with her chest heaving, Imani turned away toward the door again. Losing control right now was the last image she wanted to leave the witch with before dying.
âGoodbye, Ara,â Imani shouted over her shoulder. âI'm counting the seconds until I'm rid of you.â
âYou aren't even close to being rid of me,â Ara warned, getting in the last word before slinking back into the shadows.
Stomping up the stairs, Imani clenched and unclenched her fists a few times, letting the words sink in. Ara sat locked away, rotting without her wand. Yet somehow, like a general to be feared, the witch still sounded triumphant. Did her grandmother truly have an escape planned?Â
It wouldnât surprise Imani one bit.Â
Imani was a magicless elf up until her grandmother was executed by burning for the use of illegal flesh magic and treason. On her journey returning from witnessing the execution, Imaniâs magic is unleashed in full force, and the resulting Fabric event puts the future of magic in peril. When her beloved sister Meira is bound to be enlisted for the deadly magic trials, Imani assumes Meiraâs identity in order to take the assessments in her stead. Untested and facing powerful potential mastersâas well as cunning, ruthless, and alluring princesâImani will do anything to survive the tests and save magic.
The Elf Witch by Jacquelyn Gilmore is a high-stakes fantasy novel overflowing with political intrigue, morally grey characters, and dark magic. Despite her physical deformities and her inexperience as an elf witch, Imani is a strong, self-assured character. Confidence is an irresistible quality, and her poise sings to the male elves at court, made evident in their assertions that she is unmatched in beauty even when she drops her glamour. Her composure extends to her use of magic, despite her lack of practice, though her survival is also dependent upon the whims of the princes who decide who lives and who dies. These princes also happen to be rival brothersâand Imani must balance her relationship with both if she is to be successful in her plans.
While the character development is stellar, the world-building and explanations of the magic system in The Elf Witch leave a lot to be desired. Magic is presented as though the reader is aware of its particularities in this realm, which is workable in small amounts, but not on a grand scale. The overarching themes are clear, but I would have loved to learn more about flesh magic, the Fabric, the brands, and other facets of this very intricate magic system. Regardless, I am looking forward to continuing the series, especially following the events that occur at the end of the novel.