The witch of willow hall

3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first gothic historical fiction book I’ve read. The writing was well done and the story was interesting, but I have mixed feelings about this book. It seemed to float between several genres and the story became a bit muddled in the process.

The book is set in 1821 in a small town outside Boston. The Montrose family, which includes daughters Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline, flee Boston amid a terrible scandal to start anew in their country home, Willow Hall. Rather than being the quiet, relaxing countryside home they need, something sinister lurks in the shadows. Lydia and Emeline are affected the most by the supernatural forces surrounding Willow Hall. Powers they didn’t know they had emerge in dangerous ways.

Meanwhile, Catherine is desperately seeking a husband in an attempt to get out from under the specter of the family scandal. She sets her sights on scoundrel Mr. Pierce, hoping she can manipulate him into a quick wedding. Lydia has eyes for Mr. Barrett – an accomplished, handsome gentleman who lives in the estate next door. Complicating matters is Lydia’s former fiancé Cyrus who dumped her when the scandal broke. His family’s fortunes have taken a dive and he is now back, trying to blackmail Lydia into marrying him. While dealing with all of these things, tragedy strikes the Montrose family again. Will Lydia’s powers be a help or a hindrance in these trying times?

Overall, the book was a good, quick read with an interesting story. I encourage you to try this genre out for yourself to see if it’s something you’d like.