I finished Hekate in one sitting. I loved Nikita Gill’s retelling, and the novel-in-verse form was a big part of what made it so absorbing.
I’m oversimplifying stuff here: After Hekate’s parents find themselves on the losing side of the war between the Titans and the Olympian gods, her mother runs off with her to the Underworld, where Styx and Hades raise her. There, Hekate grows up trying to understand where she belongs and what her power means.
I also loved the spark between Hekate and Thanatos (god of peaceful death, son of Nyx). Their first in-person encounter is when the young Hekate tries to befriend Cerberus, Hades’ massive three-headed pet hound. Their connection adds another thread of attraction to the story, and I found myself looking forward to their moments together.
I never felt the verse was simply there to make the book look different. It shaped the reading experience, which is lyrical enough to make me pause, yet compelling enough to keep me turning pages. It suited the story, drawing me close to Hekate while keeping the narrative moving.
I’ve enjoyed Gill’s poetic style and Underworld world-building. Hekate gave me a story I loved in a form I loved just as much. I closed the book, glad to have spent time with her as someone whose journey I had become invested in.
Hekate: The Witch is actually the first instalment in Nikita Gill’s Goddesses of the Underworld series, followed by Styx: The River and ending with Nyx: The Night. I’m starting Styx in a moment!
