Hekate by Nikita Gill Review

 Title: Hekate

Author: Nikita Gill

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Goddesses of the Underworld, book one

Star Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book from my local library and reviewed it.

I have been a fan of Nikita Gill for a long time, since college. I have loved her poems for a very long time, so when I heard she was writing a novel, I was so excited. I reserved it from the library through the Libby app, and it took me a little over a week to finish it. I have been obsessed with mythology for as long as I can remember, and to read Hekate’s story made me happy, sad, and fulfilled. This novel in verse is a standout, and I recommend it to everyone. Nikita Gill tells the goddess’s story with signature tenderness and heart that makes her poetry so beautiful. I was captivated, and I cried several times; the ending of this novel made my heart soar! A dark, beautiful triumph of a book.

Hekate is known as the goddess of magic and the crossroads, but this story begins with Hekate being swept away to The Underworld in the aftermath of the war between the Titans and Olympians. Uncertain of her future and her own gifts, she grows up lonely, with only ghosts and remote gods and goddesses for companionship. But she grows, slowly, into a formidable goddess in her own right, fierce and quietly stalwart. I rooted for Hekate and her adventures; one of my favorite parts of the novel was her retrieval of the goddess of spring. This book was darkly lovely, lyrical and engaging. I loved how the book was in verse instead of prose; it made the book quick, but I found myself savoring her words and her character development. There are also clever nods to other characters in Greek mythology, including a certain boy-king who goes on a harrowing quest later in life. The ending was one of my favorite parts of the novel: seeing Hekate come into her own was absolutely thrilling. This book is one of my favorites of 2025, I loved the journey this book offered me. The bottom line: Rich and lyrical, I adored Hekate, and I can’t wait for its sequel! Next on deck: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn!