Earth Witch: Book Two of The Frontier Witches Series

by Annette Grantham

In the heart of western Montana, amidst the untamed wilderness and the bustling life of a small mining town called Tin Creek, comes the gripping tale of Isobel Perkins—a young woman caught between the dreams of the future and the shadows of the past. Sent by her uncle to care for her ailing, estranged father, Isobel plans only a brief stay before pursuing her lifelong ambition to become a nurse. However, destiny has other plans.
Isobel’s resolve is tested when she becomes the target of a man with a dark and violent history. As danger closes in, she must summon all her courage, magic, and intellect to escape the clutches of her captor. Unbeknownst to her, back in Tin Creek, a young man who has tenderly courted her refuses to let distance and danger part them. Rallying a rescue party, he embarks on a perilous journey to bring Isobel back home.
A letter, penned by Isobel's late mother and hidden in the shadows of the past, comes to light, unveiling a secret that will forever alter the course of Isobel's life. This staggering truth forces Isobel to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about her family, her identity, and her own place in the tapestry of Tin Creek. As she grapples with this new reality, Isobel must find the strength within herself and her magic to forge a new path forward, embracing a destiny that is far greater than she ever imagined. Set against the backdrop of a rugged frontier that demands both strength and sacrifice, this novel weaves a compelling story of courage, love, and the power of family.
Join Isobel Perkins on her journey of self-discovery and redemption, in a tale that will captivate readers from the first page to the last.

429 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2024

About the author

Annette Grantham takes readers on riveting journeys through captivating worlds of historical witch fantasy.
Annette Grantham’s life reads like one of her richly imagined fantasy novels—filled with journeys, discovery, and the pursuit of passions. Hailing from the bustling streets of New York, Annette’s early years were a nomadic odyssey from the historic Northeast to the expansive heart of Texas. Her adventurous spirit found a home in the military, where she served with dedication and honor, before she embarked on a tech odyssey as a software engineer. However, beneath the code and uniform, a storyteller’s heart beat with fervent imagination.
Annette’s pen has always been mightier than a sword, and her lifelong dream to weave tales has come to fruition in her writing. She now crafts enthralling fantasy novels that stitch together her fascination with bygone eras and the mystical. Her acclaimed five-book series, “The Frontier Witches,” is where the grit of “Deadwood” meets the enchanting allure of “Practical Magic.” Here, readers find themselves alongside bold and spirited heroines—witches who don’t just navigate but flourish in the untamed frontiers of the Old West.
Nestled in a snug cabin, where the wild whispers of nature are but a window away, Annette lives with her high school sweetheart, a lovably eccentric dog, and under the watchful eyes of a lively squirrel congregation. Her home is not just a retreat but a wellspring of inspiration where she conjures her next spellbinding adventure. Join her, and be spirited away to worlds where history’s shadow dances closely with the flicker of magical reality.

Reviews

[Jan Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid 5 * from me! Of all of the characters in Ms Graham's published books to date, I think I like Isobel the best! Like most of her characters, she knows what she wants from the very first page, which is endearing and compelling as you want to find out if she can possibly get what she wants. Unlike some of her previous characters (namely, Isobel's mother and father!), there's no moral ambiguity about her. Isobel is nice. Virtuous. Heartwarmingly relatable when she is left with little choice but to go and care for an unpleasant father she doesn't even know, even though it means putting her own ambitions on hold.
Isobel is also a witch, drawing on the Earth's powers for her unique blend of magic, as well as being a young, modern-thinking woman in a historical world which is quite brutal and judgemental to strangers. It's also, as it turns out, a place where nastiness is allowed to thrive, simply because few people have the guts to stand up to it and say no, this isn't right. Unfortunately, you will, as a reader, get somewhat enraged by the violence, the rawness of the human experience, skilfully portrayed in the plot. This is countered by the joy in the sweeping scale and beauty of the West, and the tender moments between friends and loves which also come to the fore in this latest instalment of the Frontier Witches. The supporting cast also pop off the page to help bring the story and times alive.
This is a really enjoyable, easy read, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for a trip back in time with a twist of magic.

[Margie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This “light” witch novel put smiles on my face and very little fear in my heart. At times, however, I did succumb to anger and revengeful joy. I recommend it to all fiction readers, fantasy lovers or not.
Annette’s use of vocabulary and writing style matches the era she wrote in, giving the reader a sense of the times in the late 1800s, including the stark differences between the elegance in the East and the wildness in the West. Her writing skillfully laces scene details with action without overwhelming the reader.
I particularly admired the way Annette gradually introduces us to the world of witchery, mirroring the main character’s journey of learning new skills. This approach paints a colorful and believable picture of each character in the first half of the novel. In the second half, the author escalates the action and drama, resulting in a book that is impossible to put down.
If you haven’t read Annette Grantham’s books, I highly recommend you do so. She will transport you to the worlds of an old-time Western, a fantasy, a slice of romance, and a smattering of historical fiction. What more could any fiction reader want?

[Janice Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isobel Perkins, at age four, witnessed her mother's death, but was so traumatized by the event that she lost all memory of it. She was raised by relatives, who now insist she return to Montana to care for her dying father.

The experience is a disaster from the beginning, but does stir up memories.

Isobel has always focused her magical abilities on helping and healing. There's a real danger that when she recovers her mother's grimoire and her grandmother's cursed necklace that she'll be tempted to go over to the dark side, especially after her memory of the murder resurfaces.

The story is compelling, although there are many "speed bumps" that don't quite ring true or should have been caught in editing. Still, it's quite an adventure.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love stories with a nod to history, witchcraft, and nature. The story flowed well. The romantic side of this story was written cleanly if that’s important to you. I’d love to see this made into a movie!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.