Linda Sanchez's Reviews > Darkwitch

Having already spent time in several of Kat Kinney’s worlds, I came into this one excited but also curious to see how she would push the story forward after the intensity of the first book. What I didn’t expect was how much heavier and more emotionally charged everything would feel. In the best way.

The fallout from freeing the Colony is messy, tense, and unsettling. There is no clean sense of victory here. Instead, the story sits in that uncomfortable space where freedom brings fear, division, and consequences no one fully knows how to handle. The growing hostility between humans and wolf shifters feels painfully real, and it gives the entire book an undercurrent of unease that never lets up.

Lea Wylder continues to feel grounded and human despite everything she has endured. She is strong, capable, and determined, but she is also clearly worn down by responsibility, guilt, and the weight of what she has set in motion. Her nightmares returning felt especially powerful, not just because of what they reveal, but because of how deeply personal they have become.

Henrik remains a standout character for me. There is so much vulnerability wrapped up in his strength, and the danger surrounding him is constant and suffocating. His connection with Lea is complicated, fragile, and quietly emotional. Nothing about their bond feels easy or safe, and that makes every interaction feel meaningful.

The atmosphere is cold, dark, and tense, especially once the story shifts into the surrounding wilderness. There is a constant sense that something is lurking just out of reach, something unseen but very real. The pacing allows the tension to build naturally, mixing moments of action with quieter scenes that still feel heavy with threat.

This book deepens the world, raises the stakes, and leans harder into the emotional and moral complexity of the series. It feels confident, darker, and more assured, like the story knows exactly what it wants to become. I finished it feeling unsettled, invested, and very ready for what comes next.