Roots & Wrath

A Fantasy Horror Novel

By: E. J. Wenstrom

HORROR & GHOST STORIES FANTASY FICTION FANTASY GENERAL

Description

The Craft meets Yellowjackets in this ruthless, witchy fantasy horror novel.

Once, there were six.

Six young witches hungry to achieve remarkable things…until they performed a clandestine ritual in the dark wood. Only five witches returned. The secret they buried beneath a hungry great oak split them apart forever.

Now there are five.

Eighteen years later, the death of their legendary mentor forces them back together. In her will, the professor binds them to carry on her work until their magical bond is shattered for good…by death.

Soon, there will be four.

The remaining witches scramble to uncover who is willing to kill to escape their bond. Magical spells and broken alliances—not to mention a relentless ghost of their past deeds—drive them back to the dark wood to unearth their past.

Can any of them survive the specter of the dark wood and finally put the past to rest?

The Craft meets Yellowjackets in this ruthless, witchy fantasy horror novel.

Once, there were six.

Six young witches hungry to achieve remarkable things…until they performed a clandestine ritual in the dark wood. Only five witches returned. The secret they buried beneath a hungry great oak split them apart forever.

Now there are five.

Eighteen years later, the death of their legendary mentor forces them back together. In her will, the professor binds them to carry on her work until their magical bond is shattered for good…by death.

Soon, there will be four.

The remaining witches scramble to uncover who is willing to kill to escape their bond. Magical spells and broken alliances—not to mention a relentless ghost of their past deeds—drive them back to the dark wood to unearth their past.

Can any of them survive the specter of the dark wood and finally put the past to rest?

This Edition

Format
E-Book
Published
September 22, 2026
ISBN-13
9798990221499
Publisher
E. J. Wenstrom

NetGalley Reviews

sarah m, Reviewer

I really enjoyed Roots & Wrath. The story felt fresh, unique, and genuinely intriguing from the very beginning. Wenstrom creates a world that pulls you in, and the plot maintains a strong sense of momentum throughout. The twists and turns of the thriller were exciting and kept me on my seat. The characters were a standout for me. Each one felt fully fleshed out, with believable motivations and emotional depth. I especially appreciated how realistically the book handled themes like PTSD & themes of guilt. — it was woven into the characters’ experiences in a way that felt authentic and meaningful, without ever overwhelming the rest of the narrative. The group dynamic was gripping, and I found myself invested in how their relationships evolved. The only area that occasionally pulled me out of the story was the magic system. At times it felt slightly over‑detailed, and I found it a bit hard to follow in places. Similarly, the shifts between past and present, as well as between different character perspectives, could be a little confusing at first. Overall, though, this was a very strong and engaging read. The originality of the story, the depth of the characters, and the emotional realism made it a memorable book, and I’m glad I picked it up.

Emma C. W, Book Trade Professional

(Full disclosure--I liked this book so much that I blurbed it!) Roots & Wrath pulls you in from chapter 1 and doesn't let go until that VERY LAST SCENE. Messy friendships. Witchcraft. A bloodthirsty oak. A secret that can't be outrun. And one character who will do anything to come out on top...even kill. (But who is it?) This was an easy five star read for me!

Reviewer 2098980

Really fun book. Hope to see more from this author. It’s very rare that a horror book has me on the edge of my seat like this. It didn’t disappoint.

Reviewer 2005756

I received this as an ARC copy. I really enjoyed it. I read in a day. It said it was like yellowjackets meets the craft. I think it is similar to Grady hendrix books too. I think it was a fun little read. It's about teens who go to a witch academy. Something happens to one of their friends and they can't get past it. But the death of their mentor forces them back together. But then they start dying off and they have to figure out which one of them is killing the others. Each character narrates ... It goes from then to now so you get their back stories. I think it was very well written. The end was kinda meh but it was still a fun read.

Jessica B, Reviewer

This was a really fun book to read! Once I’d read through the introduction and got into the story I was totally hooked. The twists and turns were great and I didn’t find it predictable so it kept me fully engaged throughout. I particularly enjoyed the characters and how well written they were. It was great to see from different perspectives and I felt genuinely attached to the characters which isn’t always easy to achieve. The book dealt with some more heavy and adult themes excellently and really gave depth to the characters. I did find the magic system confusing at times, but overall it was a fun and very engaging read - looking forward to seeing more from this author!

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