Kit hung up her brass knuckles, but the shadows of her past always lingered. Now they’re back to claim her.
Kit “Fadulous” Hamley, magazine editor, activist and former punk rocker, is a well-known loudmouth in St Alphege’s. She works tirelessly to hold local authorities to account. Some say she’s making up for her criminal youth. Others spread rumours of witchcraft. Only a handful of people know how dark her secrets really are.
When an old friend warns Kit that a former rival has resurfaced, those secrets start to resurface. People have gone missing, with body parts and strange symbols left behind, and someone is stalking Kit. The gang she abandoned are scared stiff and her magic-wielding bandmates are long gone. Kit herself is a target, and if she can’t unravel exactly how this new feud connects with her past mistakes, it could kill her.
Decades older, a little wiser, and contrary as ever, Kit’s going to remind them all what a punk witch can do.
Get ready for a riotous ride into the seedy underbelly of St Alphege’s, where gang warfare and occult conspiracies tear ordinary lives apart. Dyer Street Punk Witches is a standalone urban fantasy thriller, packed with tough, subversive characters and tense twists – you won’t be able to put down.
I first spotted Dyer Street Punk Witches on a table at BristolCon, and I simply couldn’t resist the cover, it practically screamed “read me!” I even had the author sign it with a perfectly fitting glittery pink pen, borrowed from the neighbouring author. Sometimes impulsive book buys turn out to be absolute gems, and I’m so glad my impulse control failed me that day, because this book was an absolute blast.
The story centers around Kit, a gritty, chaotic, and unforgettable protagonist who embodies the clash of rough edges and unexpected sparkle that the title promises. She’s as contradictory as the book itself. Tough, cynical, full of fire, and yet still clinging to a sense of hope and purpose. Watching her navigate magic, mayhem, and personal reckoning was very compelling.
One of the things I’m always searching for is urban fantasy that isn’t just paranormal romance in disguise, and Dyer Street Punk Witches absolutely delivers. There’s real magic here: spells, curses, gritty rituals, gang turf, and deep, pulsing tension in a vividly imagined city setting. It’s raw, it’s rebellious, and it pulls no punches. The magic is there, but it’s subtle instead of being bombastic. No flying fireballs or overpowered spells like in The Dresden Files, for example.
The cast of characters is delightfully flawed, full of shadowed pasts and tangled motivations. What I loved most is that no one fits neatly into a “hero” or “villain” role. Everyone is layered, and their decisions, even the frustrating ones, feel authentic to who they are. I never once felt like a character was being dumb just to move the plot along; instead, their choices made sense in the messy, human way that good writing allows. I wanted to shake them at times, sure, but I always understood why they acted the way they did.
Kit’s background as a punk, a rebel, and a sometimes-feminist with a habit of making questionable choices made her fascinating. She’s trying to fight the system, hold her people together, and deal with her own internal problems. She’s a good example of a character who can be both inspiring and deeply flawed, which made following her journey all the more rewarding.
While not all of the side characters are as fully developed as Kit, they still added to the story. The group dynamics were engaging, the rivalries tense, and the friendships heartfelt, even when broken. Kit remains the magnetic center of it all, and she more than carries the book.
Though this is part of a broader series set in the author’s Ordshaw universe, Dyer Street Punk Witches worked perfectly as a standalone. I never felt lost or like I needed to have read anything beforehand. It stands firmly on its own, with a clear arc and satisfying resolution.
If you’re looking for urban fantasy that’s edgy, original, and packed with magic, rebellion, and grit, with just a hint of glitter, then this one’s for you. I’ve since read a lot more of Williams books, and have never been disappointed.
