A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan - ARC Review
A Resistance of Witches —Review Snapshot:
What mood is this right for: You really want to punch some Nazis
Length: 416 Pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy | Urban Fantasy | YA/New Adult
Source: Digital ARC via NetGalley and Viking
Where to Buy: Amazon | Libro.FM | Kobo | Bookshop.Org
Vibes Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 Sentence Summary: Witches take on Hitler, enough said.
Synopsis
A Resistance of Witches is a historical urban fantasy set just after the Blitz during WWII. The story follows Lydia Polk as she searches for the Grimorium Bellum, a magical book of destruction sought by a group of Nazi witches determined to swing the war in Hitler’s favor. Along the way, she teams up with French resistance fighter Rebecca Gagne and Haitian-American art historian Henry Bourdeaux to locate the book and, naturally, battle some Nazis.
My Thoughts:
“Show me a world that does not hate a powerful woman, and I’ll show you a world without men.”
I don't know what's up with historical fiction lately, but this genre truly has my heart. I never thought it was my thing, but then R.F. Kuang wrote The Poppy War and completely transformed my soul. I suppose I'm officially a historical fantasy girlie now. So, I was incredibly grateful to Morgan Ryan, NetGalley, and Viking for giving me a chance to read the ARC of A Resistance of Witches. This book releases on July 15, 2025, and—I’ll get into why soon—but I highly recommend pre-ordering it!
One of the things I love the most about this book was it’s unique cast of characters. The cast is diverse, and the supporting characters are well developed; their struggles remain clear, and the author doesn’t shy away from portraying them authentically.
“Henry glanced at his mirror, then away again. ‘In America, when you're a Black man, you're a boy. It doesn't matter how old, how educated. You're a boy until the day you die. 'Watch your mouth, boy. Don't get smart, boy.' He shrugged. ‘In France, I'm a man.’ ‘The Nazis don't see you as a man.’ ‘There are Nazis everywhere. They just go by different names.’”
The pacing at the start felt a bit clunky, but once it got going, I literally couldn’t put it down—it picks up fast! It gave me vibes reminiscent of Her Majesty's Royal Coven meets Ninth House. While technically categorized as a young adult since Lydia is 19, her character felt genuinely complex. Her immaturity occasionally surfaces, but never in a way that annoys me. I also loved the minor romance sub-plot; it was just enough to make me kick my feet a little, but didn’t distract from the overall narrative.
The ending—I guessed parts of what would happen, but it still made me sob regardless.
“If I die, let it be with ‘La Marseillaise’ on my tongue.”
The CAWPILE of A Resistance of Witches
Characters = 8
One of the reasons this doesn’t feel like a debut is the strength of the characters. The diverse cast is fully realized without flattening their identities to sidekick roles or using them as plot devices. Lydia, Henry, and Rebecca all come across as real people. Also: Lydia feels 19—not 13, not 30. A rare YA win.
Atmosphere/Setting = 7
WWII London, occult academia, secret underground libraries… the vibes are there. I would’ve loved just a touch more magical texture to the worldbuilding, but the historical setting was vivid and well grounded.
Writing Style = 8
Clean, engaging prose. Dialogue-driven, with some truly standout lines.
Plot = 7
It’s a simple setup (witches vs. Nazis) with solid execution. The beginning drags a bit, but the pacing sharpens by the halfway mark—bonus points for emotional payoff in the final act.
Intrigue = 8
Once Lydia finds herself in the thick of it, the stakes feel real. I cared deeply about where it was going and how they’d get there. It’s hard to do that with a historical fantasy—but this book pulls it off.
Logic/Relationships = 8
Lydia and her mother. Lydia and Henry. Lydia and herself. The relationship dynamics are all solid and felt intentional without bogging down the story. This is a plot-driven book that remains character-focused.
Enjoyment = 9
This felt like catharsis in novel form. With everything going on in the world, watching a band of young, angry witches fight fascism with actual fire? Extremely satisfying.
Overall Score = 55/7 = 7.85 = 4 Stars
Final Thoughts
This is Morgan Ryan’s debut novel, and honestly, I was surprised to discover this because it does not read like a debut at all. It's a solid, fast-paced standalone novel (although tbh, I would love a Lydia Polk series). The themes feel especially relevant given today’s struggles—a poignant reminder of what happens when groups abandon ethics in pursuit of power.
Let me know in the comments if you’ll be picking this one up!
A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan - FAQ
Is this book part of a series?
Nope! A Resistance of Witches is a standalone (for now), but I would not complain if Morgan Ryan gave us more Lydia Polk content in the future.
Is this book young adult or adult fantasy?
Technically categorized as YA since Lydia is 19, but it reads more like a New Adult crossover. If you liked Legendborn or Ninth House, you’ll feel right at home here.
How violent is A Resistance of Witches?
There’s some violence (it is a book about witches fighting Nazis), but it’s not gratuitous. Expect magical combat, some emotional gut-punches, and one or two scenes that might make you tear up.
Does it have LGBTQ+ representation?
Yes! Without spoiling anything, the supporting cast includes queer characters and it’s handled with care, not as a checkbox.
Will this make me cry?
Almost definitely. Bring tissues. There’s one scene near the end that wrecked me.
Is there romance?
Yes, but it’s subtle. The romance isn’t the main focus of the story—it’s more about the mission and the relationships that support it—but the hints we do get are very satisfying.
A Resistance of Witches Trigger Warnings
(From StoryGraph)
Graphic
Blood, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate
Racism, Hate crime, Xenophobia
Minor
Confinement, Cursing, Racial slurs
Book Club Questions For a Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan
If you had access to a magical artifact like the Grimorium Bellum, would you use it? Why or why not?
The novel explores themes of race, colonialism, and nationalism. How do these intersect with the magic system and setting?
How did Lydia’s character evolve throughout the story? What were her most pivotal moments of growth?
How do the magical elements of the book intersect with its historical setting? Did they enhance or distract from the realism of WWII?
Who would you cast in the movie adaptation of A Resistance of Witches? (Bonus points if you fan-cast Henry.)
