Tag: book-review

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Hello there, Coven…

Calling all spellbinding book lovers into the Witchy Type Book Club—your lil’ haven for literary magick, dark academia vibes, and witchy wonders! ✨

As the bookish corner of Digital Coven, we conjure up reviews, product guides, and giveaways—because every ‘witchy’ type deserves a little bibliomancy in their life, right?!

And today, we’re diving into Rebecca Westcott’s Wish You Dead—a YA thriller where Mean Girls meets manifestation… and murder. OOoooohhhh…..

(Giveaway & interview below—scroll wisely, witches!)

Witchy Type Book Club – Interview with Rebecca Westcott, Author of WISH YOU DEAD

We’re thrilled to welcome Rebecca Westcott, author of the darkly addictive YA thriller Wish You Dead, to Digital Coven for a witchy deep-dive into her fabulous new book. Blending dark academia, sapphic romance, and a killer twist, this is the perfect read for fans of Holly Jackson, Heathers, and all things morally complex.

But first… a magical opportunity!

We’re giving away 10 copies of Wish You Dead to our Witchy Type coven—because what’s better than a free book dripping with manifestation, murder, and a morally gray protagonist, eh? Enter below (hurry—closes Friday 13th June, spooky!) and then settle in for Rebecca’s enchanting insights on witchcraft, teenage rage, and the power of intention.

 Enter the Giveaway Here!
–  Social Entry: Share a witchy snap (altar, crystals, fave books!) with #witchytypegiveawayWUD
–  Email Entry: Send #witchytypegiveaway to emma@emfluence.co.uk or fill out this form.

Now, without further ado… let’s summon the interview!

Q: Your book features witchcraft, manifestation, and a Book of Shadows. What kind of research did you do into real-world spellcraft and magical practices to make Morgana’s rituals feel authentic?

A: Researching for Wish You Dead was one of the most creatively enriching parts of the writing process. I wanted Morgana’s rituals to feel grounded and believable—not like something plucked from a fantasy film, but like they could really be performed by someone today. To achieve that, I approached the research from a few different angles.

I started with books—both contemporary guides on modern witchcraft and manifestation, and historical texts on the persecution of witches, especially during the early modern period. That gave me insight into how deeply personal and spiritual witchcraft has always been, and how much of it is rooted in reclaiming power, intention-setting, and community ritual. I read accounts of so-called witches who were accused for everything from healing with herbs to simply being “too independent,” and that fed into the emotional core of Morgana’s story.

Social media was surprisingly helpful, too. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are full of practicing witches sharing their Book of Shadows, altar setups, daily rituals, and thoughts on ethics, energy, and intention. Watching those gave me a real-time sense of how diverse modern magical practices are. It also helped me write rituals that felt real, not performative – although the dramatic element is absolutely part of Morgana’s persona!

Q: Do you believe in the power of manifestation or magic yourself? Did writing this book change your perspective on witchcraft at all?

A: Writing Wish You Dead has taken me on such an unexpected journey of discovery—both creatively and personally. I’ve always had a sense that we’re part of something bigger, that there’s more to life than what we can see or explain. The idea of gratitude isn’t new to me but diving into this book really deepened my understanding of manifestation and magic, especially the power of intention.

Before I started writing, I’ll admit I had a very simplified view of manifesting—something like hoping for what you want and then waiting for the universe to deliver it to your doorstep. But through writing Morgana’s story, I began to see it so differently. Manifestation, at its core, is about clarity, self-worth, and action. It’s about knowing what you truly want, believing you deserve it, and aligning your energy and efforts with that vision. That’s incredibly empowering, and it’s something I’ve carried into my own life.

Exploring witchcraft from a historical and contemporary perspective also shifted my mindset. I’ve come to see it not just as a spiritual path, but as a form of self-empowerment and deep connection—to nature, to intention, to your own voice. There’s something really magical in that, whether you identify as a witch or not.

So yes, I do believe in magic—but not in the Hollywood sense. I believe in the magic of energy, belief, intuition, and action. Writing this book didn’t just change my perspective on witchcraft—it expanded it.

Image: Rebecca Wescott

Q: Morgana is a morally complex protagonist. How did you balance making her powerful yet vulnerable, feared yet relatable?

A: I love this question—because it taps right into one of the things I care most about in storytelling: the beautiful complexity of being human. And honestly, there’s no one more complex than a teenage girl.

In my other life, I’m a Deputy Headteacher, so I spend my days surrounded by teenagers—and that is an absolute gift. Seeing them move through the world, constantly adapting, questioning, reacting… it’s endlessly fascinating. I talk about duality a lot in Wish You Dead, but the truth is that teenagers go beyond duality. They’re shapeshifters. They assess the environment, read the energy in the room, and become who they need to be in that moment to survive, to stay safe, to belong. That kind of emotional agility is powerful—and often misunderstood.

So when I was writing Morgana, I didn’t want to flatten her into being just one thing. She’s strong, yes—but she’s also scared. She’s angry, but she’s also deeply vulnerable. She makes questionable choices, but they come from a place of pain, of grief, of trying to protect herself. And I think that’s what makes her real.

In many ways, it would have been far harder to write a one-dimensional teenage protagonist than a morally complex, contradictory, emotionally messy one. Teenagers are all of those things—powerful and fragile, brave and afraid, fierce and full of self-doubt. That’s not something to fix. That’s something to honour. And with Morgana, I wanted to do exactly that.

Q: What’s your writing ritual? Do you have a “spell” for creativity (e.g., specific music, candles, etc.)?

A: If procrastination counts as a ritual, then yes—I’m deeply committed to mine! Before I can write a single word, the house has to be spotless (which obviously takes time), the right candles must be lit (scent and colour matter), and I have to find the perfect spot in the house to write—which, unhelpfully, seems to change every single day. Sometimes it’s the kitchen table, sometimes the bedroom floor, sometimes somewhere entirely impractical. It’s like a quest just to get into the right headspace.

For Wish You Dead, that headspace became even more specific. I brought a few magical tools into the mix to help anchor me in Morgana’s world. I kept a trio of crystals next to my laptop—carnelian for creativity, sodalite for intuition, and lapis lazuli for self-expression. Whether or not they “worked” in a traditional sense, they definitely helped me focus my energy and feel more connected to the story I was trying to tell.

Music was absolutely essential too—especially because one of the central themes of the book is female rage. I needed songs that tapped into that energy and let it rise to the surface while I wrote. Wicked Ones by Dorothy and How Villains Are Made by Madalen Duke were two standouts on my playlist—they helped me access that raw, unapologetic power that runs through Morgana’s journey. The right song at the right moment could pull me straight into Avalon and into her head, no matter how chaotic the rest of the day had been.

So yes, while I may not have a formal spell for creativity, I definitely have a ritual—and a healthy dose of superstition, mood-setting, and atmosphere-building. Writing, for me, is half craft and half magic. The trick is just showing up…after the house is clean, of course…

Huge thank you, to the fabulous Rebecca Westcott, for this spellbinding conversation! Wish You Dead is out now, and if you’re craving dark academia with a lethal twist, grab your copy [here]—or cross your fingers and enter our giveaway before Midnight Friday 17th July 2025!

Want more magic?

• Follow Rebecca: Insta: @rebeccawestcottwriter
• Book Link [Amazon] :https://amzn.to/4432uVq
• Author Page [Amazon]:https://amzn.to/43tHPK9

Curious about booking a Witchy Workshop or Tarot reading with me [Emma]? Pop me an email over at emma@emfluence.co.uk and we can go from there! 

Got a question or want to say hi? Why not show some love over on my socials: 

@Bunnypudding (Tiktok) / @Bunnyscopes (Instagram)  Link Tree / Facebook 

(P.S. Tag us if this interview inspires your witchy creations—sharing is caring!)