The Witch of Willow Hall Published by Graydon House by Hester Fox
on October 2, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Historical, Paranormal, Romance, Witches
Pages: 364
Format: ARC, eBook
Reading Challenges: Beat the Backlist 2020
Also by this author: A Lullaby for Witches, The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
ISBN: 1525833014
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Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.
Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences but those around you, as well.
New Oldbury, 1821
In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall. The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.
All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…
Why did I wait so long to read this book?!
I’m struggling so much with my book-hangover here.
I started this story and finished it a day later; I would’ve finished it sooner had I had more time. It’s been a long time since I’ve connected to a main character the way I connected to Lydia. She’s selfless, brave, loving, forgiving, at time naive, and just an all-around wonderful heroine to read about.
The relationships between Lydia and her family are one of the main themes in this one. Mostly; the relationship she has with her sisters. She has an older sister, Catherine and a younger sister, Emeline. All I will say is that those two separate relationships are about as polarizing as it gets. But, the relationships go through changes throughout the story. And it’s those changes that add elements of strife for Lydia.
The other “character” in the book, that I felt was reminiscent of the moors of “Wuthering Heights” was Willow Hall, itself. Almost a living, breathing thing, this house.
Lastly, I’ll say that Lydia’s and John’s relationship and Lydia’s acceptance of who she really is and was meant to be are my favorite parts of this. There were moments of sadness, so desperately profoundly sad that I was in awe over how Hester Fox made me feel. But, in the end, I was bolstered by how nicely the ending came together and how worthy a hero, John was for Lydia.
This is a good read if you like things a little dark and scary, but not enough to keep you awake at night.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
