Nikita Gill at Feel Good Club

Enter the Underworld with internationally bestselling poet Nikita Gill as she discusses her “propulsive, electrifying and enraging” new book Hekate, The Witch with poet and writer Charlie Brogan.

The book, out with Simon & Schuster, is a “wholly original” (Elodie Harper, bestselling author of The Wolf Den trilogy) retelling in verse of the life and myths of Greek goddess Hekate, child of war turned all-powerful goddess of witchcraft and necromancy, encountering keys and crossroads.

Expect an evening of conversation about the power of poetic verse and let the author be your guide to themes of feminine rage, womanhood, refuge, power, hope, motherhood and magic.

BBC Radio 4 regular and author of A Thousand Ships and Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes says of Hekate: “Atmospheric, engrossing, beautiful and sad, one of those books you find yourself wanting to be back inside when you’ve had to put it down.”

Here’s the publisher’s blurb: “Born into a world on fire, Godling Hekate has never known safety. After her parents are on the losing side of the war between the ruling Titans and new Olympian Gods, Hekate is taken by her mother Asteria to the Underworld, where Styx and Hades agree to raise her. Meanwhile, Asteria is pursued across the world by Zeus and Poseidon and, to escape their clutches, transforms herself into an island in a stormy sea. Orphaned and alone, Hekate grows up amongst the horrors and beauties of the Underworld, desperate to find her divine purpose and a sense of belonging in the land of the dead. When Hekate finally uncovers her powers and ascends to Goddess status, she realises that even the most powerful Olympians are terrified of her. But when immortal war breaks out again, threatening to destroy everything from Mount Olympus to the Underworld itself, the Goddess of witchcraft and necromancy is the only one who can bring the deadly conflict to an end…”

“A vivid and imaginatively wrought divine world that is monstrous, magical and beautiful” are the words of Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Hera and Ariadne. Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Clytemnestra, meanwhile, “absolutely loved it” and says the book is “a powerful reflection on magic, power, family and the consequences of war”.

Irish-Indian poet, playwright, illustrator and actor ​Nikita Gill has written seven poetry collections and two verse novels. Her work offers a shift of perspective which centres women in both Greek and Hindu myth as well as folklore. She has given a TEDx talk, spoken at major literary festivals around the UK, and been shortlisted for the Goodreads Choice Award in poetry three times, the Children’s Poetry Award twice and longlisted for the Jhalak Prize.

​Every ticket comes with a copy of the new book, which Nikita Gill will sign and dedicate on the night. Plus, indie bookshop Simply Books will be on hand with copies of Nikita’s previous poetry collections in case you fancy an extra copy.