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Unholy Island #1
The Ward Witch
Mysterious, magical, and a little bit deadly… Welcome to Unholy Island.
Esme Gray runs the guest house and tends to the ethereal wards that protect the island. She’s sheltering from a terrible past and will do anything to stay safely hidden.
Luke Taylor has been searching for his missing twin for months, but has begun to believe that his brother might be dead. With his hope in tatters, a tip off leads him to a remote tidal island in the North Sea. It’s further out than the famous Holy Island, and far stranger.
Visitors shouldn’t be able to stay for more than two nights, so when Luke breaks this rule, the close-knit community is sent into turmoil. The residents of Unholy Island have secrets and they intend to keep them.
When Luke stumbles across one of the islanders dead on the shore, he finds himself under suspicion, made worse by his own troubles washing up on the tide.
Esme is drawn to Luke, but she doesn’t trust her own instincts. That’s not ideal for a witch — especially when there is a killer on the loose and a storm is rolling in…
The Ward Witch is the first book in a brand new contemporary fantasy series from the bestselling author of magical fiction, Sarah Painter.
*The Ward Witch is set in the same world as the urban fantasy mystery books, Crow Investigations, but it is the start of a separate series and can be enjoyed independently.
Praise for the Crow Investigations
'I'm a huge fan!' Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels
'My favourite new urban fantasy series, clever and twisty and deliciously magical, with a shivery sense of wonder that feels utterly grounded in its London setting. Perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Genevieve Cogman or Robert Galbraith!'
Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled
'The Lydia Crow books are a firm favourite of mine, combining intriguing crime fiction with a hint of other-worldly mysticism. The characters are brilliantly drawn, and Sarah Painter cleverly makes them believable despite them having magical powers - or even being dead. With just enough comedy to make the dark bits even darker, and the perfect amount of mystery, these books are a wonderful read.' Kerry Barrett
Esme Gray runs the guest house and tends to the ethereal wards that protect the island. She’s sheltering from a terrible past and will do anything to stay safely hidden.
Luke Taylor has been searching for his missing twin for months, but has begun to believe that his brother might be dead. With his hope in tatters, a tip off leads him to a remote tidal island in the North Sea. It’s further out than the famous Holy Island, and far stranger.
Visitors shouldn’t be able to stay for more than two nights, so when Luke breaks this rule, the close-knit community is sent into turmoil. The residents of Unholy Island have secrets and they intend to keep them.
When Luke stumbles across one of the islanders dead on the shore, he finds himself under suspicion, made worse by his own troubles washing up on the tide.
Esme is drawn to Luke, but she doesn’t trust her own instincts. That’s not ideal for a witch — especially when there is a killer on the loose and a storm is rolling in…
The Ward Witch is the first book in a brand new contemporary fantasy series from the bestselling author of magical fiction, Sarah Painter.
*The Ward Witch is set in the same world as the urban fantasy mystery books, Crow Investigations, but it is the start of a separate series and can be enjoyed independently.
Praise for the Crow Investigations
'I'm a huge fan!' Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels
'My favourite new urban fantasy series, clever and twisty and deliciously magical, with a shivery sense of wonder that feels utterly grounded in its London setting. Perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Genevieve Cogman or Robert Galbraith!'
Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled
'The Lydia Crow books are a firm favourite of mine, combining intriguing crime fiction with a hint of other-worldly mysticism. The characters are brilliantly drawn, and Sarah Painter cleverly makes them believable despite them having magical powers - or even being dead. With just enough comedy to make the dark bits even darker, and the perfect amount of mystery, these books are a wonderful read.' Kerry Barrett
Audible Audio
First published June 22, 2023
622 people are currently reading
5072 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Painter
55 books899 followersSarah Painter is the author of the bestselling magical novel, The Language of Spells, and its follow-up, The Secrets of Ghosts.
She has written 'book club' fiction with atmospheric settings and historical elements (In The Light of What We See and Beneath The Water), and a 'wonderfully dark and twisty' supernatural thriller, The Lost Girls.
Sarah's latest venture is an exciting new urban fantasy series, Crow Investigations. Yes, she finds it hard to stick to one genre!
Before writing books, Sarah Painter worked as a freelance magazine journalist, blogger and editor, combining this 'career' with amateur child-wrangling (AKA motherhood).
Sarah lives in rural Scotland with her husband and children. She drinks too much tea, loves the work of Joss Whedon, and is the proud owner of a writing shed.
She has written 'book club' fiction with atmospheric settings and historical elements (In The Light of What We See and Beneath The Water), and a 'wonderfully dark and twisty' supernatural thriller, The Lost Girls.
Sarah's latest venture is an exciting new urban fantasy series, Crow Investigations. Yes, she finds it hard to stick to one genre!
Before writing books, Sarah Painter worked as a freelance magazine journalist, blogger and editor, combining this 'career' with amateur child-wrangling (AKA motherhood).
Sarah lives in rural Scotland with her husband and children. She drinks too much tea, loves the work of Joss Whedon, and is the proud owner of a writing shed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
November 2, 2024
Ok Hoopla recommended this book to me and it was such a pleasant surprise!!! Cozy witchy mystery on an island in Scotland set at the beginning of the off-season- perfect for November!! Lots of cozy pub scenes. And found family and misfits, etc! I’m already starting the second book of the series! So fun!
Also can y’all see this review?? I heard that maybe my profile is still private even to friends- but I checked all my settings and y’all should be able to see what I’m reading and all my reviews- right?
Also can y’all see this review?? I heard that maybe my profile is still private even to friends- but I checked all my settings and y’all should be able to see what I’m reading and all my reviews- right?
December 27, 2023
A bit disappointing. There are many plot points in this book, yet none of them go anywhere. We only get closure about one subplot, and that doesn’t even happen until like halfway through the book when it randomly becomes a whodunnit for a character I had completely forgotten about.
I was here for witchy vibes and possible spicy scenes that the author kept alluding to .. except it really wasn’t witchy at all (despite the title) and literally nothing happens between the FMC & MMC so I don’t understand why the author kept up the anticipation? I wanted to like this book, but at the end I was like “wait, that’s it?”.
Maybe it needed a better editor or another 100 pages.
I was here for witchy vibes and possible spicy scenes that the author kept alluding to .. except it really wasn’t witchy at all (despite the title) and literally nothing happens between the FMC & MMC so I don’t understand why the author kept up the anticipation? I wanted to like this book, but at the end I was like “wait, that’s it?”.
Maybe it needed a better editor or another 100 pages.
October 27, 2024
In a way I am immensely jealous of Luke. Imagine being gifted a bookshop on a remote Scottish island. 😭😭😭😭
July 22, 2023
Very Little Magic or Witchery
I really like this author’s books but this one left me entirely unsatisfied. It felt like none of the storylines that were alluded to were ever developed - what was the island’s story? Why did it choose Luke? Who/what were the Three Sisters? What was going on in the bookshop? The missing brother was just a red herring and those are just a few of the giant plot holes. I’m honestly not sure how none of this was flagged in editing. I’ll still read her next book but for me this one was a miss.
I really like this author’s books but this one left me entirely unsatisfied. It felt like none of the storylines that were alluded to were ever developed - what was the island’s story? Why did it choose Luke? Who/what were the Three Sisters? What was going on in the bookshop? The missing brother was just a red herring and those are just a few of the giant plot holes. I’m honestly not sure how none of this was flagged in editing. I’ll still read her next book but for me this one was a miss.
August 19, 2023
This was a very sweet cozy fantasy/mystery and I didn’t even seen it coming. I grabbed this one because it was available to read immediately on Libby and I was so desperate for something I didn’t bother to even read the description. What a lovely surprise it was. A mix of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, House on the Cerulean Sea, maybe even Garden Spells? It walks the line of magical realism and fantasy and it does it well.
The story follows Luke who has decided to come to the remote place of Unholy Island looking for his twin. However no one there is what they seem and when he decides to stay past two days, he ends up throwing everyone’s lives into chaos. Add to that, a dead body shows up on the beach and everyone is suspicious of the newcomer. Luke will have to help find the murderer and keep his past from catching up if he wants a chance to stay on the island and keep up his search.
Every character stands out and I loved trying to guess what their real nature is. I was also glad that this is a series because I hope it means we will see more of the characters have room to breathe. It’s sweet and heartfelt but don’t expect anything too deep, it’s a cozy and a wonderful one at that.
The story follows Luke who has decided to come to the remote place of Unholy Island looking for his twin. However no one there is what they seem and when he decides to stay past two days, he ends up throwing everyone’s lives into chaos. Add to that, a dead body shows up on the beach and everyone is suspicious of the newcomer. Luke will have to help find the murderer and keep his past from catching up if he wants a chance to stay on the island and keep up his search.
Every character stands out and I loved trying to guess what their real nature is. I was also glad that this is a series because I hope it means we will see more of the characters have room to breathe. It’s sweet and heartfelt but don’t expect anything too deep, it’s a cozy and a wonderful one at that.
June 24, 2024
This is closer to 3.5 ⭐️!
I usually love a good mystery and supernatural story. I feel that the pacing could’ve be better. It wasn’t as engaging as I would’ve liked. There was so much mystery about the residents and the island. You don’t get most of the answers until the end and there were a lot of questions still unanswered.
I usually love a good mystery and supernatural story. I feel that the pacing could’ve be better. It wasn’t as engaging as I would’ve liked. There was so much mystery about the residents and the island. You don’t get most of the answers until the end and there were a lot of questions still unanswered.
Read
July 14, 2025DNF. I cant finish this. I am incredibly bored.
May 15, 2025
This is a cosy magical mystery with a slow-burn romance. The story is set at Unholy Island which is a remote, magical tidal island in the North Sea.
Esme runs the guest house and tends the ethereal wards that protect the island and ensures that visitors do not stay for more than two nights.
Luke has been searching for his missing twin for months and ends up staying at Unholy Island longer than the usual two nights, which sends the close-knit community into a tailspin. Surprisingly he ends up being gifted a sentient bookshop.
P.S. I would happily be gifted a sentient bookshop!
This is the first story in the Unholy Island series.
Esme runs the guest house and tends the ethereal wards that protect the island and ensures that visitors do not stay for more than two nights.
Luke has been searching for his missing twin for months and ends up staying at Unholy Island longer than the usual two nights, which sends the close-knit community into a tailspin. Surprisingly he ends up being gifted a sentient bookshop.
P.S. I would happily be gifted a sentient bookshop!
This is the first story in the Unholy Island series.
December 25, 2023
As the year comes to a close, I've been fortunate to find some truly outstanding urban fantasy books. This one is a solid favorite. I've enjoyed Sarah Painter's writing for a while now, but this new novel just hit all the sweet spots for me. It's adult and a wee bit disturbing without being graphic, it's got great characters I hope to see further developed in future books, and the story line felt organic and flowed. Couldn't put it down - excellent read!
June 19, 2025
This is hard to rate.
On the one hand, I didn’t find anything offensive with the story. There were some sentences that were difficult to understand because of the way they were written. But that was all.
Then, on the other hand, I didn’t find the story to be that good. There was a death and some investigation to find out who did it, but this took place when the story was halfway through and was sorted very quickly. Most of it was about the characters, their interactions and how everyone was reacting to Luke’s appearance on the island.
There were a lot of indications that some of the islanders were not human, but, other than in one case, nothing was disclosed about their true nature. Maybe this will be explained in the next instalments?
My rating of three stars is really because I didn’t feel any thing special about this. Sure, the story ends in a quite intriguing way, but maybe that won’t be relevant for the next book. Who knows?
I will give book two a chance and see if it is worth reading the third one.
On the one hand, I didn’t find anything offensive with the story. There were some sentences that were difficult to understand because of the way they were written. But that was all.
Then, on the other hand, I didn’t find the story to be that good. There was a death and some investigation to find out who did it, but this took place when the story was halfway through and was sorted very quickly. Most of it was about the characters, their interactions and how everyone was reacting to Luke’s appearance on the island.
There were a lot of indications that some of the islanders were not human, but, other than in one case, nothing was disclosed about their true nature. Maybe this will be explained in the next instalments?
My rating of three stars is really because I didn’t feel any thing special about this. Sure, the story ends in a quite intriguing way, but maybe that won’t be relevant for the next book. Who knows?
I will give book two a chance and see if it is worth reading the third one.
June 17, 2025
Well, I’m afraid I found this book to be very disappointing. I just don’t understand why the writer would create a magic system and then don’t - in any way whatsoever - explore, explain or use the system itself. I mean, why even bother creating it if you’re not going to use it?
Then there are the characters of unholy island, who all have a sinister background before coming to the island. Instead of exploring these backstories - which would have made these characters way more interesting for me - the writer makes the choice to just tell the reader the information. This made the characters feel boring and stale.
Lastly, in the middle of the book, a totally random and forgettable person is found to be murdered. I felt myself very unmotivated and uninterested to find out who did it and why, which did not change when I found out later.
Many times I have put this book down, wondering if I should pick it up or let is lie on my coffee table. If you feel the same while reading this book, do let it lie there or better yet, just burn it.
To end on a positive note: I did find the cosy pub scenes to be very enjoyable. Not enough to make this book worth it, though.
Then there are the characters of unholy island, who all have a sinister background before coming to the island. Instead of exploring these backstories - which would have made these characters way more interesting for me - the writer makes the choice to just tell the reader the information. This made the characters feel boring and stale.
Lastly, in the middle of the book, a totally random and forgettable person is found to be murdered. I felt myself very unmotivated and uninterested to find out who did it and why, which did not change when I found out later.
Many times I have put this book down, wondering if I should pick it up or let is lie on my coffee table. If you feel the same while reading this book, do let it lie there or better yet, just burn it.
To end on a positive note: I did find the cosy pub scenes to be very enjoyable. Not enough to make this book worth it, though.
June 24, 2024
Suspenseful and mysterious, maybe too much
Actually 3.5 🌟 rounded up
I'm a little on the fence and don't really know how to feel. I mean it took all weekend to get through the book, even though it's not that long. I loved the island. I really enjoyed the mystery and tension. I just found everything a bit vague. Like all the inhabitants live here, and we know they all have some magical capability, but it's never really explained. I know it's more magical realism which I love, but the only story lines that really made sense were that of Luke and Esme?
Actually 3.5 🌟 rounded up
I'm a little on the fence and don't really know how to feel. I mean it took all weekend to get through the book, even though it's not that long. I loved the island. I really enjoyed the mystery and tension. I just found everything a bit vague. Like all the inhabitants live here, and we know they all have some magical capability, but it's never really explained. I know it's more magical realism which I love, but the only story lines that really made sense were that of Luke and Esme?
May 3, 2024
I enjoyed this urban fantasy novel (can it be urban if it takes place in a small town?) It felt cozy... except for the murder and beatings. it also reminded me strongly of another fantasy book but I am not sure which one.
October 7, 2023
Super cozy and quietly magical. It was a bit of a slow start, but I really loved this book!
February 6, 2024
Boring except for last three sentences.
February 12, 2024
Urban fantasy isn’t really my genre, but i thought i’d attempt it with Unholy Island. Of which, i was disappointed. The only question i was captivated by throughout the whole novel was still unanswered at the end and the romantic storyline never established itself. New genres and narrative styles can be exiting, but i’m currently feeling very unsatisfied. Though, i did find the author to be well versed and you could sense Painter’s passion for her work.
March 17, 2024
Not sure if this is a fantasy, love story or crime - you get a bit of all 3!
February 22, 2025
Really really enjoyed this story and the mysterious magic of the island. I will absolutely be finishing the trilogy.
I wish I could move to an island and inherit a bookshop.
I wish I could move to an island and inherit a bookshop.
June 11, 2025
this read like a play - much enjoyed
January 10, 2025
A nice easy read, story was enough to keep me interested and I liked the characters and the tease about who or what they are. I went straight into book 2 to find out what happens next
December 16, 2024
Endlessly repeating the same 3 phrases regarding plot items is not how one builds suspense Ma'am
I went back and forced myself to finish this. Still not feeling it. Not as bad as some, better than others. The author had a lot of world building to accomplish in addition to juggling a few plot lines.
I went back and forced myself to finish this. Still not feeling it. Not as bad as some, better than others. The author had a lot of world building to accomplish in addition to juggling a few plot lines.
May 17, 2025
This is as described- a cozy witch read. There is much left to be explored and uncovered in this series.
January 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐
A captivating fantasy novel that skillfully weaves together magic, mystery, and self-discovery. Set on Unholy Island, where witches and magical beings are an integral part of society, the story follows a young woman named Esme, who is a "Ward Witch." In this world, Ward Witches are responsible for protecting the Islanders from outside threats and visitors, but Esme struggles with the weight of her powers and the dark secrets of her past.
Luke is an outsider, who shouldn’t have been able to stay more than the allotted 2 days. So why is he still here? What is he hiding and what does he want on such a remote island.
My favorite part about this book is its rich world-building and character development. Unholy Island is its own universe filled with intricate magical systems and a palpable sense of tension. The depiction of Esme’s world feels both immersive and lived-in, with different magical factions, each with their own set of rules and politics, giving the narrative depth and complexity.
Esma is a compelling protagonist, and her character development is one of the standout aspects of the novel. She starts out as a somewhat reluctant hero, grappling with feelings of inadequacy and a lack of understanding about her powers. Throughout the novel, readers get to watch her grow stronger as she unravels the mysteries surrounding her powers and the dangerous forces she faces. Her inner conflict is both relatable and poignant, making her journey all the more engaging.
In terms of pacing, The Ward Witch strikes a balance between action and introspection. There are moments of tension and suspense that keep the reader on edge, while quieter scenes allow for deeper exploration of Esme and Luke’s emotional and psychological journeys.
The magic system is another highlight. Painter does an excellent job of creating a world where magic feels tangible, with clear rules and limitations. The stakes are high, and the challenges Esme faces are both internal and external, making the story feel multidimensional. The novel also touches on themes of trust, betrayal, and the responsibility that comes with great power, adding an emotional weight to the magical conflict.
A captivating fantasy novel that skillfully weaves together magic, mystery, and self-discovery. Set on Unholy Island, where witches and magical beings are an integral part of society, the story follows a young woman named Esme, who is a "Ward Witch." In this world, Ward Witches are responsible for protecting the Islanders from outside threats and visitors, but Esme struggles with the weight of her powers and the dark secrets of her past.
Luke is an outsider, who shouldn’t have been able to stay more than the allotted 2 days. So why is he still here? What is he hiding and what does he want on such a remote island.
My favorite part about this book is its rich world-building and character development. Unholy Island is its own universe filled with intricate magical systems and a palpable sense of tension. The depiction of Esme’s world feels both immersive and lived-in, with different magical factions, each with their own set of rules and politics, giving the narrative depth and complexity.
Esma is a compelling protagonist, and her character development is one of the standout aspects of the novel. She starts out as a somewhat reluctant hero, grappling with feelings of inadequacy and a lack of understanding about her powers. Throughout the novel, readers get to watch her grow stronger as she unravels the mysteries surrounding her powers and the dangerous forces she faces. Her inner conflict is both relatable and poignant, making her journey all the more engaging.
In terms of pacing, The Ward Witch strikes a balance between action and introspection. There are moments of tension and suspense that keep the reader on edge, while quieter scenes allow for deeper exploration of Esme and Luke’s emotional and psychological journeys.
The magic system is another highlight. Painter does an excellent job of creating a world where magic feels tangible, with clear rules and limitations. The stakes are high, and the challenges Esme faces are both internal and external, making the story feel multidimensional. The novel also touches on themes of trust, betrayal, and the responsibility that comes with great power, adding an emotional weight to the magical conflict.
dnf
May 7, 2024This is not a bad book.
I have some gripes with it though.
First, the plot pretty quickly becomes a fairly standard whodunit one that doesn't really feel like it provides the necessary detail and depth to make it actually interesting to speculate and to think about.
I was intrigued by the introduction and I liked the mysterious unholy island vibe with all these occult-feeling and somewhat arbitrarily magical rules of it all.
But this doesn't really work for me with the kind of murder plot and how it is told.
Second, the many POVs. There are two different reasons to have many POVs. The first is the one everyone thinks of when hearing a story has many POVs which is a very complex story with different POVs that gives the readers multiple distinct perspectives of the same overall story or world. This is the good reason.
But there is also a second one which is paradoxically the exact opposite. In the latter case, the author just hops into the perspective of whatever character seems easiest to tell that bit of the story from instead of figuring out how to effectively communicate information to the audience which e.g. the MC is not privy to. It also allows the author to lazily communicate thoughts of multiple characters to the reader which is also sometimes referred to as head hopping. This second reason is much more common in third-person limited perspectives but it can also be done with first-person stories like this one. In case it wasn't obvious, I consider the second reason lazy and bad writing.
With all that established, this book is a mix of both. There is definitively some deeper character work that grounds at least a few of the many different POVs. But at the same time, I felt like many of the perspectives didn't really add much to the story and just made it unnecessarily hard to follow. Or they were meant to foreshadow something or function as a red herring but both were done without much subtlety.
For me, at least the problem with complex multi-pov stories is not that I struggle to follow it all. The problem is that typically one of two things happen. Either I am unable to care for any one character which makes me lose interest so I am basically reading personal accounts of people I don't care about. Or I care about one or two and every other POV is just an exercise in frustration because I'd rather read another POV. It's all time that is taken away from reading about the characters I do care about. At the end of the day, it boils down to the same thing that makes dry exposition and info-dumping such a terrible idea if not done in moderation. I am reading about stuff I don't care about.
Third, the pacing. If you try to write a moody story that is building atmosphere first and foremost which moves at its own pace then I need a less driving main plot. I felt constantly torn between trying to enjoy the atmosphere the book was going for and the whodunit sitting in my neck, driving my impatience to get on with it already. The many POVs also slow things down even more.
With a murder plot, you need investigation progress or tension buildup for the plot to work but you can not pause the plot to build atmosphere.
Every POV shift, every environment description, every emotion exploration or reflection on memories feels like someone holding candy just out of my reach.
If I want to enjoy eating a ripe and tasty apple I can not eat a bag of fruit gushers before the apple or it will just taste bland.
Around 50% I just kind of lost interest because it all felt so slow and uninteresting.
A last minor gripe I had was that, while the initial arbitrary magical workings of this island were intriguing, as the story goes on it feels more and more like a series of plot conveniences to bend things that wouldn't otherwise logically work. This is really not that bad especially compared to major offenders of this problem but it still rubbed me the wrong way.
I have some gripes with it though.
First, the plot pretty quickly becomes a fairly standard whodunit one that doesn't really feel like it provides the necessary detail and depth to make it actually interesting to speculate and to think about.
I was intrigued by the introduction and I liked the mysterious unholy island vibe with all these occult-feeling and somewhat arbitrarily magical rules of it all.
But this doesn't really work for me with the kind of murder plot and how it is told.
Second, the many POVs. There are two different reasons to have many POVs. The first is the one everyone thinks of when hearing a story has many POVs which is a very complex story with different POVs that gives the readers multiple distinct perspectives of the same overall story or world. This is the good reason.
But there is also a second one which is paradoxically the exact opposite. In the latter case, the author just hops into the perspective of whatever character seems easiest to tell that bit of the story from instead of figuring out how to effectively communicate information to the audience which e.g. the MC is not privy to. It also allows the author to lazily communicate thoughts of multiple characters to the reader which is also sometimes referred to as head hopping. This second reason is much more common in third-person limited perspectives but it can also be done with first-person stories like this one. In case it wasn't obvious, I consider the second reason lazy and bad writing.
With all that established, this book is a mix of both. There is definitively some deeper character work that grounds at least a few of the many different POVs. But at the same time, I felt like many of the perspectives didn't really add much to the story and just made it unnecessarily hard to follow. Or they were meant to foreshadow something or function as a red herring but both were done without much subtlety.
For me, at least the problem with complex multi-pov stories is not that I struggle to follow it all. The problem is that typically one of two things happen. Either I am unable to care for any one character which makes me lose interest so I am basically reading personal accounts of people I don't care about. Or I care about one or two and every other POV is just an exercise in frustration because I'd rather read another POV. It's all time that is taken away from reading about the characters I do care about. At the end of the day, it boils down to the same thing that makes dry exposition and info-dumping such a terrible idea if not done in moderation. I am reading about stuff I don't care about.
Third, the pacing. If you try to write a moody story that is building atmosphere first and foremost which moves at its own pace then I need a less driving main plot. I felt constantly torn between trying to enjoy the atmosphere the book was going for and the whodunit sitting in my neck, driving my impatience to get on with it already. The many POVs also slow things down even more.
With a murder plot, you need investigation progress or tension buildup for the plot to work but you can not pause the plot to build atmosphere.
Every POV shift, every environment description, every emotion exploration or reflection on memories feels like someone holding candy just out of my reach.
If I want to enjoy eating a ripe and tasty apple I can not eat a bag of fruit gushers before the apple or it will just taste bland.
Around 50% I just kind of lost interest because it all felt so slow and uninteresting.
A last minor gripe I had was that, while the initial arbitrary magical workings of this island were intriguing, as the story goes on it feels more and more like a series of plot conveniences to bend things that wouldn't otherwise logically work. This is really not that bad especially compared to major offenders of this problem but it still rubbed me the wrong way.
July 19, 2024
This series takes us to Unholy Island: the home of a close knit community that stays that way because of the magical wards that keep visitors from staying any longer than a day or two. Our outsider, Luke, comes to the island looking for his brother, and surprises the locals when he doesn't get the urge to leave after the expected number of days. When one of the islanders turns up dead they decide that either he was the one who killed her or else he is here to take her place.
While this did have some cozy elements, it still was shrouded in the same darkness that's present in Painter's other series. All of the characters were running from something, and they all seemed to possess some kind of magic that was still in most cases a mystery by the end of this book.
It was fun to find some easter eggs of the Crow Investigations series though I wouldn't say you have to read that one first. Something different in this series was the fact that it had multi POVs which was fun for a change. I really do love Painter's simplistic writing style. Her books go by so fast even though there is a lot of interesting world building and character development throughout.
There were a lot of questions that were left open at the end of this one and with her style I know they might not be answered for a while so I'm excited to jump into the next book!
While this did have some cozy elements, it still was shrouded in the same darkness that's present in Painter's other series. All of the characters were running from something, and they all seemed to possess some kind of magic that was still in most cases a mystery by the end of this book.
It was fun to find some easter eggs of the Crow Investigations series though I wouldn't say you have to read that one first. Something different in this series was the fact that it had multi POVs which was fun for a change. I really do love Painter's simplistic writing style. Her books go by so fast even though there is a lot of interesting world building and character development throughout.
There were a lot of questions that were left open at the end of this one and with her style I know they might not be answered for a while so I'm excited to jump into the next book!
December 28, 2025
Audiobook read by Katie Villa.
Luke Taylor has been looking for his missing twin brother for eighteen months with no success. A vague clue leads him to Unholy Island, a little further off the Northumbrian coast than Lindisfarne, and accessible only by a causeway at low tide. The locals, all with their own secrets, don't like tourists and the island itself usually ensures that visitors spend no more than two nights there, but Luke is determined to stay longer and - surprise - the island lets him. He stays at Esme Gray's B&B. Esme, who has run away from a troubled past with a controlling partner, is the island's ward witch. She's drawn to Luke, but still very wary of him. When Luke finds one of the villagers dead on the shore, suspicion falls on him, though Esme doesn't believe he's guilty. Gradually the truth is revealed, and Luke finds himself accepted by the suspicious islanders. This is set in the same world as Sarah Painter's Crow Investigations books, which I very much enjoyed, but it's a completely new sequence and can be read without having read the Crow books. Nicely read by Katie Villa
Luke Taylor has been looking for his missing twin brother for eighteen months with no success. A vague clue leads him to Unholy Island, a little further off the Northumbrian coast than Lindisfarne, and accessible only by a causeway at low tide. The locals, all with their own secrets, don't like tourists and the island itself usually ensures that visitors spend no more than two nights there, but Luke is determined to stay longer and - surprise - the island lets him. He stays at Esme Gray's B&B. Esme, who has run away from a troubled past with a controlling partner, is the island's ward witch. She's drawn to Luke, but still very wary of him. When Luke finds one of the villagers dead on the shore, suspicion falls on him, though Esme doesn't believe he's guilty. Gradually the truth is revealed, and Luke finds himself accepted by the suspicious islanders. This is set in the same world as Sarah Painter's Crow Investigations books, which I very much enjoyed, but it's a completely new sequence and can be read without having read the Crow books. Nicely read by Katie Villa
August 5, 2023
Unholy Island is located just a few miles north of Holy Island, Lindisfarne off the coast of Northern England and southern Scotland. Most visitors are discouraged from staying more than two days and the island seems to have a conscious of its own. Esme Gray has fled an abusive past and has discovered she is the Ward Keeper of the island and the residents. She is slowly starting to believe in herself and has made allies, if not friends. Luke has arrived on the island looking for his missing criminal twin brother, Lewis, acting on a vague hint. The residents are not very friendly, but he gets permission to stay at Esme's B & B. Then someone is killed. All of the residents have secrets, and many have sought refuge there and magic exists, but readers do not learn too many mysteries, so I am looking forward to the next title.
August 26, 2023
Wooow! I don’t think I’ve read a book like this ever!! The way i was on the edge of my seat the entire time, pure shock. I loved the way it was written, just enough intriguing elements to keep me guessing. I was so invested in this story, wanting to know it all.
The allure of Unholy Island is definitely enchanting, it drew me in and kept me guessing, wondering and wanting more. I’m so excited to see what’s to come, i want to know more about this island and its people in it. I can’t wait!
The allure of Unholy Island is definitely enchanting, it drew me in and kept me guessing, wondering and wanting more. I’m so excited to see what’s to come, i want to know more about this island and its people in it. I can’t wait!
October 4, 2025
It was an Okay ... a cozy read though.
Alot of things were left not explained but I guess that would/should be explained in the coming books. I expected it to have way much more magic but yet again the book lacked the "witchy" vibes .
Still gonna read the next part , so keen on knowing whats going on with the bookshop
Alot of things were left not explained but I guess that would/should be explained in the coming books. I expected it to have way much more magic but yet again the book lacked the "witchy" vibes .
Still gonna read the next part , so keen on knowing whats going on with the bookshop
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