J.D. Siegel’s The Witches of Galdanon is a haunting exploration of survival, power, and redemption wrapped in the eerie atmosphere of a plague-ridden fantasy world.
After reading The Witches of Galdanon, I had the privilege of posing a few detailed questions to J.D. Siegel about his novel. Not only did he respond within minutes, but his answers were incredibly insightful, offering a glimpse into the remarkable effort and dedication behind this story.
The Witches of Galdanon is a deeply human story. With morally complex characters, richly detailed settings, and a narrative steeped in darkness and ambiguity, Siegel crafts a story that is as challenging as it is captivating.
The witches of Hemwyth—exiled, desperate, and fractured—are not heroes in the traditional sense, nor are they irredeemable villains. They exist in the gray spaces of morality, their choices shaped by fear and survival. Miria, the reluctant moral compass of the group, emerges as one of the novel’s strongest voices. Scarred both physically and emotionally by her encounter with hunters, Miria grapples with loyalty to her coven and the weight of her conscience. Her struggle is painfully relatable, capturing the difficulty of navigating loyalty, guilt, and a desire to do better.
“Originally, Miria was a minor character,” Siegel revealed in our exchange. “But as I wrote more about Veronica and her choices, I realized Miria was the perfect foil for her. As someone who struggled to make her family proud despite her identity being directly counter to their ideals, I hope her inner turmoil is relatable and communicates that moral choices are never black and white.”
This theme of moral complexity extends to the entire coven. River, initially unlikable in her defiance and self-interest, undergoes a profound transformation, evolving into a figure of redemption. Veronica, on the other hand, becomes a cautionary tale, her unrelenting thirst for revenge overshadowing any chance at personal growth. Siegel shared, “Veronica surprised me. Her story became much more tragic as I explored her backstory, and I came to understand and empathize with why she felt the way she did. Unfortunately, she chose to reject redemption in favor of revenge.”
The balance Siegel strikes between empathy and critique is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Even at their worst, the witches are undeniably human, their actions rooted in pain and fear rather than malice.
Hemwyth, the island where the witches have been exiled, is a world of shadows and secrets—an extension of the story’s themes of isolation and decay. Once a thriving settlement, it has become a desolate, haunted place where survival feels like a hollow victory. Siegel’s prose brings the island to life in vivid, unsettling detail, from its abandoned villages to the eerie, ever-present winds that seem to whisper secrets of the past.
Beyond Hemwyth, the broader world of Galdanon is sketched with tantalizing hints of lore. The magic system, categorized into Sorcery, Healing, and Alchemy, is intentionally vague, reflecting the Galdanei’s attempt to simplify something inherently complex. “The magic system in Galdanon is well developed but is presented as being intentionally vague,” Siegel explained. “Its categorization into different schools is only done by the Galdanei as a way for them to understand it, which echoes the real-life propensity of people to simplify their understanding of complex concepts.”
Siegel’s writing is in my opinion, a highlight of the novel. His prose is precise, atmospheric, and evocative, capturing both the bleak beauty of Hemwyth and the emotional turmoil of its inhabitants. The dialogue crackles with tension, revealing fractures in the witches’ alliances while adding depth to their individual personalities. The pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to build gradually until it becomes almost unbearable.
The central themes of The Witches of Galdanon—power, morality, and redemption—are explored with nuance and depth. The witches’ powers, while extraordinary, isolate them from the world and from each other, becoming both a burden and a source of identity. Miria’s journey reflects the possibility of change, while Veronica’s descent into vengeance serves as a counterpoint, a reminder that redemption is a choice, not a guarantee.
Sylvia, the group’s healer, offers a quieter form of redemption, growing in confidence and compassion over the course of the story. Siegel noted, “Sylvia surprised me. Even though she was never as morally gray as the others, she still became better and more confident.”
But there’s always room to grow. While The Witches of Galdanon excels in many areas, it is not without room for improvement. The world-building, while evocative, occasionally feels too restrained. Expanding on the magic system and the lore of Orgon could have added richness to the narrative. Similarly, some of the supporting characters, such as Holly and Callie, could benefit from deeper development to match the complexity of Miria, River, and Veronica. Additionally, while the prose is atmospheric and introspective, a few sections—particularly moments of action—could use more vivid, immersive detail to heighten the sense of urgency. The moments of physical confrontation sometimes felt rushed, making me think I kept missing opportunities to fully immerse in the danger and stakes of the witches’ battles.
With that being said, The Witches of Galdanon is a remarkable novel. Its richly drawn characters, haunting setting, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout in the genre. Siegel’s ability to balance the intimate and the epic, the human and the supernatural, is nothing short of masterful.
When asked what he hopes readers take away from the book, Siegel said, “That moral choices are never black and white.” It’s a sentiment that encapsulates the heart of the story, a reminder that even in the darkest times, we are defined by the choices we make. For fans of morally complex narratives and richly atmospheric world-building, The Witches of Galdanon is a must-read. It is a book that challenges, unsettles, and ultimately affirms the power of storytelling.
And lots of room for future expansions! J.D. Siegel, I want to have to know more about Orgon!
You can buy The Witches of Galdanon here, and here, and go ask J.D. Siegel some questions, here!
As always: keep questioning, keep exploring, keep reading!
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